THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 

IN  MEMORY  OF 
EDWIN  CORLE 

PRESENTED  BY 
JEAN  CORLE 


THE  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES 

OF 

LAZARILLO  DE  TORMES 


THE  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES 

OF 

GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE 


MENDOZA — MATEO  ALEMAN 


THE  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES 

OF 

LAZARILLO  DE  TORMES 

TRANSLATED   FROM    THE   SPANISH   OF 
DON  DIEGO  HURTADO  DE  MENDOZA 

BY  THOMAS  ROSCOE 


THE  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES 

OF 

GUZMAN    D'ALFARACHE 

OR 

THE    SPANISH    ROGUE 

BY  MATEO   ALEMAN 

FROM  THE  FRENCH  EDITION  OF  LE  SAGE 

BY  JOHN  HENRY  BRADY 

TOife  <g{S0f  drt'smaf  &tV>in&  fig  (R.  be  fio*  (${OA 
IN  TWO  VOLUMES— VOL.  I 


NEW   YORK 

WORTHINGTON   CO.,  747   BROADWAY 
1890 


PQ. 


CONTENTS  OF  VOL.  I. 

FAQl 

THE  LIFE  OF  MENDOZA i 

LAZARILLO  DE  TORMES. 

CHAPTER 

I.  Introduction .         9 

II.  How  Lazaro  entered  into  the  service  of  a  Priest,  and 

what  ensued 25 

III.  How  Lazaro  became  the  Servant  of  an  Esquire,  and 

what  happened  to  him  in  that  Service      ...       41 

IV.  How  Lazaro  Served  a  Friar  of  La  Merced,  and  what 

happened  to  him 65 

V.  How  Lazaro  Served  a  Bulero,  and  what  took  place     .       66 
VI.  How    Lazaro  agreed  to  Serve  a    Chaplain,  and  how 

he  Fared 73 

VII.   How  Lazaro  agreed  to  Serve  an  Alguazil,  and  of  what 

ensued 74 

VIII.  Lazaro's  Account  of  the  Friendship  he  formed  in 
Toledo  with  some  Germans,  and  of  what  passed 
between  them 78 

GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE. 

MATEOALEMAN 83 

L  Introduction 85 

II.  Of  the  Parents  of  Guzman,  but  more  particularly  of 

his  Father 89 

III.  G-annan  relates  how  his  Father  makes  an  acquaint- 

ance with  a  Lady,  with  the  consequences  thereof  .       96 

IV.  Guzman's  Father  gets  Married,  and  Dies  :  what  fol- 

lowed his  Death  . 107 


vi  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTEB  PAO* 

V.  Guzman  sets  out  from  Seville.     His  first  Adventure 

at  an  Inn IJ3 

VI.  Guzman  meets  with  a  Muleteer  and  two  Friars  ;  of 
their  Conversation  ;  and  in  what  manner  the  Mule- 
teer and  he  were  Regaled  at  an  Inn  at  Cantillana      Il8 
VII.  The  Landlord  steals   Guzman's   Cloak.     A    Great 

Uproar  at  the  Inn 133 

VIII.  Guzman  and  the  Muleteer  meet  with  another  Misfor- 
tune   139 

IX.  The  Amour  of  Ozmin  and  the  beautiful  Daraxa          .     150 
X.  Guzman  becomes  an  Innkeeper's  Boy        .         .         .     259 
XL  Guzman  becomes  disgusted  with  his  Situation,  leaves 
the  Inn,  and  repairs  to  Madrid,  where  he  asso- 
ciates with  some  Beggars      .....     269 

XII.  Guzman  is  engaged  by  a  Cook          ....     273 

XIII.  From  the  Service  of  the  Cook,  Guzman  returns  to 

the  Begging  Trade,  and  Robs  an  Apothecary        .     288 
XIV.  Guzman  on  his  way  to  Toledo  meets  with  a  Young 

Man  :  what  passed  between  them          .         .         .     296 
XV.  Guzman  arrives  at   Toledo,   and  acts  the   Man   of 

Fortune  there.     Some  Account  of  his  Gallantries       302 
XVI.  Guzman's  Amours  continued,  and  in  what  Manner 

they  ended  ........     318 

XVII.  Guzman  takes  a  False  Alarm  and  leaves  Toledo  pre- 
cipitately. Another  Gallantry.  Origin  of  the 
Proverb,  "At  Malagon,  a  Thief  in  every  House, 
but  in  that  of  the  Alcaid  Two,  the  Father  and  the 

Son" 326 

XVIII.  Guzman  offers  himself  to  serve  in  the  Company  newly 
raised.     His  Reception  by  the  Captain,  and  how 
they  afterwards  lived  together      ....     333 
XIX.  Guzman  proceeds  with  the  Company  to  Barcelona, 
where   he   plays  a  Trick  upon  a  Jeweller,  and 

embarks  for  Italy 342 

XX.  Guzman,  having  arrived  at  Genoa,  resolves  to  present 
himself  before  his  Kindred  there.  How  he  was 
received  by  them.  3So 


THE   LIFE   OF   MENDOZA. 


DON  DIEGO  HURTADO  DE  MENDOZA  was  born  at 
the  commencement  of  the  sixteenth  century,  in  the 
city  of  Granada,  and  not,  as  erroneously  asserted  by 
some  writers,  at  Toledo.  His  father,  Don  Lopez  de 
Mendoza,  was  Count  of  Montillas,  and  subsequently 
Marquis  de  Mondessar,  the  same  who  so  highly  dis- 
tinguished himself  in  the  service  of  Ferdinand  and 
Isabella  at  the  surrender  of  Granada,  of  which  place 
he  was  made  governor,  being  the  first  on  whom  that 
dignity  had  been  conferred  since  the  downfall  of  the 
Moorish  empire  in  Spain.  His  son,  Don  Diego, 
received  his  education  at  the  university  of  Salamanca, 
where,  besides  civil  and  canon  law,  he  studied  the 
sciences  and  the  learned  languages. 

Having  finished  his  education,  he  passed  into  Italy, 
and  joined  the  army  of  the  Emperor  Charles  the 
Fifth.  There,  as  it  is  observed  by  Nicolas  Antonio, 
he,  like  Scipio,  devoted  himself  at  once  to  literature 
and  to  war;  "inter  arma  atque  studia  versatus,  aut 
corpus  periculis,  aut  animum  disciplinis  exercebat." 
During  the  cessation  of  hostilities,  he  retired  in  the 

VOL.  I.  A 


LIFE  OF  MEND02A. 

ensuing  winter  to  Rome  or  Padua,  where  he  resumed 
the  cultivation  of  letters,  and  at  once  elevated  his 
imagination  and  improved"  his  taste,  by  examining 
the  wonderful  productions  of  Italian  art. 

The  superiority  of  Mendoza's  genius,  combined 
with  the  solidity  of  his  judgment,  and  his  prompti- 
tude of  action,  soon  attracted  towards  him  the  atten- 
tion of  his  royal  master,  who  confided  to  him  an 
important  embassy  to  the  city  of  Venice.  In  the 
same  capacity  he  subsequently  went,  on  several  occa- 
sions, to  Rome,  where  he  acquitted  himself  in  some 
delicate  and  arduous  affairs  with  so  much  skill  and 
firmness  as  to  merit  the  additional  confidence  of  his 
own  court. 

At  the  famous  Council  of  Trent,  which  was  not,, 
as  some  writers  have  supposed,  composed  merely  of 
bishops  and  ecclesiastics,  met  to  discuss  the  doctrine 
and  discipline  of  the  Church,  but  with  the  views  of  a 
political  congress  engaged  in  carrying  the  respective 
interests  and  objects  of  different  states  in  competition 
with  rival  diplomatists,  requiring  the  utmost  capacity 
and  penetration  in  their  several  representatives,  Don 
Diego  equally  distinguished  himself  among  the  best 
of  his  age — an  age  when  monarchs  like  Charles  V., 
Henry  VIII.,  and  Francis  I.  swayed  the  sceptres  of 
European  power.  On  one  occasion,  it  has  been, 
erroneously  we  believe,  asserted  of  Don  Diego,  that, 
being  earnestly  engaged  in  disputing  some  point  with 
the  Cardinal  de  Santa  Cruz,  he  threatened,  on  the 
provocation  of  the  moment,  to  throw  that  prelate 
into  the  Adige,  if  he  longer  persisted  in  requiring  the 


THE  LIFE  OF  MENDOZA.  3 

dissolution  of  the  congress.  In  the  year  1547,  after 
the  dissolution  of  the  Council,  he  returned  to  Rome 
from  his  governorship  of  Senar,  which  had  been  con- 
ferred upon  him  by  Charles  the  Fifth,  as  upon  one 
whose  judgment  a^nd  firmness  best  enabled  him  to 
restrain  the  turbulent  disposition  of  its  inhabitants. 

At  Rome,  Mendoza  appeared  in  the  conclave  of 
cardinals,  where  he  made  a  vigorous  appeal  in  support 
of  the  Emperor's  views  in  presence  of  the  whole  con- 
sistorial  court  and  the  foreign  ambassadors.  In  reply, 
the  Pope  informed  him  that  he  should  have  an  answer 
in  the  same  session  of  the  court;  and  this  was  in 
fact  given  by  Cardinal  Pole,  who  rebuked  him  for 
the  vehemence  of  his  protest,  imputing  it  wholly  to 
the  violent  temper  of  the  Emperor's  plenipotentiary. 
The  last,  however,  as  vehemently  denied  that  he 
had  exceeded  his  powers,  and  required  instant  recog- 
nition of  his  deputed  authority,  and  the  claims  he 
had  already  advanced.  The  Pope,  incensed  at  the 
Spaniard's  temerity,  and  confiding  in  his  league  with 
the  French  court,  threatened  Don  Diego  with  his 
high  displeasure,  observing,  "  See  to  it,  sir,  that 
while  you  remain  in  my  house,  you  do  not  too  far 
presume."  To  this  the  ambassador  replied  with  noble 
spirit,  "  I  am  a  cavalier,  my  father  was  one  before 
me,  and  as  such  it  is  my  duty  to  fulfil  the  commands 
of  my  royal  master,  without  any  fear  of  your  Holi- 
ness, so  long  as  I  observe  due  reverence  to  the  vice- 
gerent of  Christ.  I  am  minister  to  the  King  of 
Spain,  and  my  residence  is  wheresoever  it  may  please 
him  to  order  my  route;  and  here  as  there,  I  am,  as 


4  THE  LIFE  OF  MEND02A. 

his  representative,  safe  even  from  your  Holiness's  dis- 
pleasure." After  the  death  of  Paul  III.,  Don  Diego 
continued  to  act  in  the  same  capacity  for  his  master 
under  his  successor,  Julius  III.,  who,  in  a  bull  dated 
I55°»  re-established  the  Council  of  Trent. 

The  year  following,  Don  Diego  was  recalled  'from 
his  embassy  at  Rome,  and  in  1553  was  commissioned 
by  Charles  to  prevent  the  departure  of  Cardinal  Pole 
from  Rome  into  England,  which  he  succeeded  in  doing. 

Under  Philip  II.,  Don  Diego's  services  were  not  so 
highly  estimated,  and  he  lived  in  comparative  retire- 
ment, till  finally,  in  the  year  1565,  he  was  banished 
from  the  court  on  account  of  having  drawn  his  sword 
in  the  king's  palace  in  order  to  defend  himself  against 
the  attack  of  another  knight  who  sought  his  life. 
He  then  withdrew  to  Granada,  where  he  employed 
himself  in  his  celebrated  history  of  the  "  War  against 
the  Moors,"  which  was  continued  from  the  year  1568 
down  to  1570 — a  period  when  his  brother,  Don  Inigo 
de  Mendoza,  was  captain-general  of  that  province. 
Finally,  in  1574,  he  obtained  permission  to  return  to 
Madrid,  where  he  died  soon  after  his  arrival.  Litera- 
ture owes  no  few  obligations  to  this  distinguished 
writer;  he  spared  no  pains  to  transport  learned 
works  and  manuscripts  from  the  East,  availing  him- 
self of  his  influence  with  the  Sultan  Solyman,  and 
of  his  knowledge  acquired  from  two  excellent  Greek 
scholars,  named  Arnoldo  Artemio  and  Nicholas 
Soriano.  In  the  literature  of  his  own  country,  he 
stands  conspicuous  among  the  few  extraordinary  men 
who  reflected  lustre  upon  the  age  in  which  they  lived. 


THE  LIFE  OF  MENDOZA.  5 

A  patron  of  science,  indefatigable  in  his  pursuit  of 
liberal  studies  —  distinguished  alike  in  the  cabinet 
and  in  the  field — profoundly  versed  in  the  philosophy, 
as  in  the  languages  of  the  ancients — in  geography, 
history,  and  the  belles  lettres,  he  signalised  himself 
equally  as  a  poet,  an  historian,  and  a  moralist;  he 
was  at  once  the  first  statesman  and  most  liberal  patron 
of  his  age.  His  historical  compositions  are  remark- 
able for  their  impartiality  and  correctness,  for  the 
solidity  of  their  views,  and  vigorous  style  and  spirit ; 
while  his  poetry  is  throughout  imbued  with  a  fine 
lyric  tone  and  flow  of  expression. 

His  "  Oration  at  the  Council  of  Trent,"  his  "  Poli- 
tical Commentaries,"  his  "  Paraphrase  of  Aristotle," 
and  translation  of  his  "Treatise  on  Mechanics," 
with  "  An  Account  of  the  Great  Naval  Conquest  of 
Funez,"  and  battle,  and  the  merit  of  having  first  in- 
troduced the  muses  of  Italy  to  the  admiration  of  his 
own  countrymen — are  among  his  other  claims  to  our 
favourable  regard.  As  a  novelist,  he  ranks  among 
the  best  of  his  class,  having  produced  his  celebrated 
"  Lazarillo  de  Tormes  "  at  a  very  early  age,  while  his 
"History  of  the  Moorish  Wars"  stamps  his  name 
with  equal  reputation  as  an  historian.  • 

These  two  works  exhibit  admirable  pictures  of 
the  times  in  which  they  were  composed.  That  of 
"  Tormes  "  is  full  of  truth  and  vivacity  of  colouring, 
with  a  certain  freedom  and  grace  of  composition, 
through  all  which  there  runs  a  vein  of  delicate  satire, 
and  sometimes  broader  humour,  combined  with  a 
picturesque  power  and  effect,  which  display  the  hand 


6  THE  LIFE  OP  MENDOZA. 

of  a  master.  Of  his  "  History  "  posterity  has  already 
pronounced  its  opinion ;  rapid,  concise,  vigorous,  and 
severe :  Tacitus  and  Sallust  were  doubtless  his  models, 
and  emulated  in  a  manner  to  acquire  for  him  the 
appellation  of  the  Spanish  Sallust.  Far  from  being, 
like  most  works  of  the  same  age,  a  bare  recital  of 
facts,  it  exhibits  a  lively  representation  of  the  minds 
and  characters  of  those  he  commemorates,  and  the 
views  by  which  they  were  actuated.  We  behold  the 
motives  of  the  different  actors  as  they  step  upon  the 
stage,  and  the  conflicting  interests  with  which  they 
come  in  contact,  so  as  to  excite  our  powerful  sym- 
pathy in  the  tragic  events  which  ensue.  He  describes 
the  enemies  of  his  country  in  their  true  colours,  not 
with  the  prejudice  and  injustice  indulged  in  by  other 
writers.  If  he  exposes  the  errors  and  defects  of  the 
Moors,  he  does  not  attempt  to  gloss  over  the  excesses 
of  the  Christians :  he  bestows  commendation  where 
he  feels  it  to  be  due;  and  in  the  same  spirit  of  impar- 
tiality and  integrity  he  denounces  the  arbitrary  mea- 
sures pursued  under  the  governorship  of  his  brother. 
By  his  clever  and  ingenious  work  of  "  Lazarillo  de 
Tormes,"  Mendoza  raised  a  lasting  monument  to  the 
genius  of  the  Castilian  language ;  and  long  before  the 
appearance  of  the  great  Cervantes  he  had  the  merit 
of  producing  the  first  model  of  the  novela  picoresca, 
peculiar  to  the  literature  of  Spain.  In  this  he  laid 
the  groundwork  of  others  in  the  same  class — those  of 
Guzman  d'Alfarache,  "  El  Diablo  Cojuelo,"  and  the 
still  more  famous  "  Gil  Bias."  In  the  French  rifaccia- 
mento  of  Le  Sage,  that  writer  can  merely  lay  claim 


THE  LIFE  OF  MENDOZA.  ^ 

to  the  praise  of  having  skilfully  availed  himself  of 
the  best  traits  and  incidents  in  the  "  Lazarillo,"  and 
having  further  developed  and  arranged  them  in  such 
a  manner  as  to  prove  most  agreeable  to  the  genius  of 
his  own  age  and  country. 

Numerous  editions  of  this  popular  work  have 
appeared  both  in  and  beyond  Spain ;  and  among  the 
latter  are  a  few  printed  from  the  original  text,  before 
it  had  been  expurgated  by  the  pen  of  the  Inquisition. 
For  the  present  purpose,  in  the  account  of  the  Bull, 
a  copy  never  yet  revised  has  been  purposely  obtained ; 
for  such  a  chapter  would  in  vain  be  sought  for  in  the 
castigated  editions,  for  reasons  which,  on  its  perusal, 
may  be  safely  left  to  the  English  reader's  penetration. 
The  frequent  and  serious  engagements  which  occupied 
go  much  of  Mendoza's  time  and  exertions,  both  as  a 
statesman  and  a  soldier,  were  most  probably  the  cause 
of  his  never  having  produced  any  other  work  resem- 
bling the  early  one  of  "  Lazarillo  de  Tormes,"  and 
which  displayed  the  same  admirable  burlesque,  acute 
wit,  and  satire  which  distinguish  this  lively  and  enter- 
taining novel ;  while  the  same  may  be  observed  *»f  his 
poems,  which  are  chiefly  devoted  to  the  gentler  senti- 
ment of  love  or  friendship.  Doubtless,  however,  satino 
humour  was  his  peculiar  forte;  for  when  treating 
even  on  the  grave  subject  of  his  embassy,  he  adopts  a 
tone  of  delicate  satire  in  one  of  his  epistles  addressed 
to  Don  Luis  Zunissa,  as  the  following  shows : — 

"  Oh  !  Embaxadores,  puros  majaderos 
Que  si  los  Reyes  quieren  enganar 
Empieazan  por  nosotros  los  primieros." 


8  THE  LIFE  OF  MENDOZA. 

The  splendid  reputation  acquired  by  this  great 
character,  as  a  soldier,  a  diplomatist,  and  a  man  of 
letters,  call  for  a  far  wider  sphere  of  observation  than 
we  can  here  attempt  to  embrace ;  but  what  has  been 
done  may  be  sufficient  to  furnish  the  English  reader 
with  a  pretty  accurate  idea  of  the  high  and  versatile 
qualities  of  this  ingenious  master  and  inventor  of  the 
novela  picoresca  of  Spain. 


THE 

LIFE   OF   LAZARILLO    DE    TORMES, 

HIS  FORTUNES  AND  HIS  MISHAPS. 

CHAPTER   I. 

You  must  know  then,  in  the  first  place,  that  my 
name  is  Lazaro  de  Tormes,  and  that  I  am  the  son  of 
Thomas  Gonzalez  and  Antonia  Perez,  natives  of 
Tejares,  a  village  of  Salamanca.  My  surname  was 
acquired  by  the  singular  circumstance  of  my  birth, 
which  happened  in  the  river  Tormes,  and  in  the  fol- 
lowing manner.  My  father  (to  whom  God  be  mer- 
ciful) was  employed  to  superintend  the  operations  of 
a  water-mill,  which  was  worked  by  the  course  of  the 
above  river  (a  situation  that  he  held  above  fifteen 
years),  and  my  mother  at  that  time  being  enclente  with 
me,  while  staying  one  night  at  the  mill  was  suddenly 
seized  with  the  pains  of  labour,  which  terminating 
happily,  it  may  with  truth  be  said,  that  my  surname, 
borrowed  from  the  river,  was  not  inaptly  bestowed. 

I  had  only  reached  my  ninth  year,  when  my  unfor- 
tunate father  was  charged  with  administering  certain 
copious  but  injudicious  bleedings  to  the  sacks  of  cufr- 


lo  MENDOZA. 

tomers  to  the  mill — a  lowering  system  which  was 
voted  by  them  to  be  neither  salutary  nor  profitable. 
He  was  forthwith  taken  into  custody;  when,  not 
being  able  to  deny  the  indiscreet  application  of  his 
professional  ability,  he  experienced  the  usual  penalty 
of  the  law.  It  is,  however,  to  be  hoped  that  he  is 
now  reaping  the  reward  which  has  been  faithfully 
promised  by  the  Evangelist  to  all  those  who  have 
suffered  persecution  for  justice'  sake;  for  they  are 
declared  to  be  in  the  highest  degree  fortunate  in  such 
their  tribulations.  By  this  disaster,  my  poor  father 
being  thrown  out  of  employment,  joined  an  arma- 
ment then  preparing  against  the  Moors,  in  the  quality 
of  mule-driver  to  a  gentleman ;  and  in  that  expedi- 
tion, like  a  loyal  servant,  he,  along  with  his  master, 
finished  his  life  and  services  together. 

My  widowed  mother,  thus  bereft  of  husband  and 
of  home,  determined,  in  order  to  acquire  a  reputa- 
tion, to  associate  herself  with  people  of  character; 
she  therefore  hired  a  small  place  in  the  city,  and 
opened  an  eating-house  for  the  accommodation  of 
the  students,  adding  likewise  to  her  gains  by  wash- 
ing linen  for  the  servants  of  his  Excellency  the 
Comendador  of  the  order  of  Magdalena.  It  was 
in  the  exercise  of  the  duties  of  this  latter  branch  of 
industry  that  she  became  acquainted  with  a  groom  of 
the  stables,  a  man  of  colour  rather  than  of  character 
or  fortune.  Under  the  pretence  of  buying  eorgs  he 
would  continually  come  to  our  house,  and  at  last 
obtained  an  intimate  footing  therein.  At  first,  in 
consequence  of  his  colour  and  the  roughness  of  his 


LAZARILLO  DE  TORMES.  II 

manners,  I  was  frightened  at  him  ;  but  when  I  found 
that  our  scanty  fare  was  changed  by  his  visits  into 
abundance,  for  he  always  brought  bread  and  meat, 
and  in  winter  wood  for  our  fire,  I  not  only  conquered 
my  repugnance,  but  even  hailed  his  approach  with 
pleasure.  One  unpleasantness  attended  this  intimacy, 
which  was  that  my  mother  presented  me  with  a  little 
brother,  very  pretty,  though  of  a  darkish  complexion, 
and  whom  I  was  obliged  to  assist  in  nursing  and 
bringing  up. 

Matters  were  not  carried  on  so  secretly,  however, 
but  that  some  intelligence  of  Zayde's  gallantry  reached 
the  ears  of  the  Comendador's  majordomo,  who,  on 
inquiry,  found  a  terrible  deficiency  in  the  barley,  to 
say  nothing  of  currycombs,  brushes,  and  such  like 
movables,  which  had  been  unaccountably  lost;  and 
it  was  found  also,  that  when  nothing  better  offered 
itself,  even  the  horses  were  unshod  for  the  sake  of  the 
iron,  and  all  was  unluckily  traced  to  my  mother  for 
the  support  of  my  little  brother. 

One  can  hardly  wonder  at  a  priest  or  a  friar,  the 
one  robbing  the  poor,  the  other  his  convent,  for  the 
fake  of  their  fair  and  devout  believers,  when  love  can 
stimulate  a  poor  slave  to  do  the  like.  All  this  was 
fully  proved ;  for  when  they  came  to  me,  like  a  child 
as  I  was,  and  fearful  of  the  threats  of  punishment,  I 
discovered  to  them  all  I  knew  of  the  matter,  even  to 
the  very  horse-shoes  which  my  mother  had  directed 
me  to  sell  to  the  farrier.  My  poor  father-in-law  was 
soundly  flogged,  and  his  flesh  tickled  with  drops  of 
scalding  fatj  while  my  mother  was  forbidden  the 


12  MENDOZA. 

house  of  the  Comendador,  and  was  commanded, 
under  the  severest  penalties,  never  to  receive  Zayde 
into  her  presence  again.  Not  to  make  matters  worse, 
my  mother  fulfilled  the  obligation  of  the  sentence,. and 
to  avoid  danger,  as  well  as  to  escape  further  scandal, 
she  engaged  herself  to  serve  the  guests  at  the  inn  of 
the  Solana,  where,  notwithstanding  she  suffered  a 
thousand  inconveniences,  she  managed  to  rear  my 
little  brother.  As  to  myself,  I  went  on  errands,  and 
endeavoured  to  make  myself  as  useful  as  possible. 

About  this  time  a  blind  man  came  to  lodge  at  the 
house,  and  thinking  that  I  should  do  very  well  to 
lead  him  about,  asked  my  mother  to  part  with  me 
for  that  purpose.  My  mother  recommended  me 
strongly,  stating  that  I  was  the  son  of  an  excellent 
man  who  died  in  battle  against  the  enemies  of  our 
faith,  and  "  I  trust  in  God,"  added  she,  "  that  he  will 
never  make  a  worse  man  than  was  his  father."  She 
confided  me  to  his  care  as  an  orphan  boy,  and  en- 
treated him  to  use  me  with  kindness.  The  old  man 
promised  to  receive  me,  not  as  a  servant,  but  as  a 
son;  and  thus  I  commenced  service  with  my  new 
though  blind  and  aged  master.  We  remained  in 
Salamanca  some  few  days,  but  my  master  finding  his 
gains  in  that  city  to  be  very  inconsiderable,  deter- 
mined to  seek  greater  profits  elsewhere.  When  we 
were  ready  to  depart,  I  went  to  take  leave  of  my 
mother,  who,  with  an  abundance  of  tears,  from  which 
I,  too,  could  not  refrain,  gave  me  her  blessing,  and 
said,  "  My  son,  this  may  probably  be  the  last  time  I 
shall  ever  see  you  j  endeavour  then  for  my  sake  to 


LAZAR1LLO  DE  TORMES.  13 

be  good,  and  may  the  Almighty  assist  you.  I  have 
reared  you  from  childhood,  and  now  provide  you  with 
a  kind  master;  look  to  yourself  for  the  future,  and 
farewell."  I  then  went  to  rejoin  my  master,  who 
was  waiting  for  me  at  a  short  distance. 

We  left  Salamanca,  and  having  arrived  at  the 
bridge,  my  master  directed  my  attention  to  an 
animal  carved  in  stone  in  the  form  of  a  bull,  and 
desired  me  to  take  him  near  it.  When  I  had  placed 
him  close  to  it,  he  said,  "  Lazaro,  if  you  put  your  ear 
close  to  this  bull,  you  will  hear  an  extraordinary 
noise  within."  In  the  simplicity  of  my  heart,  be- 
lieving it  to  be  as  he  said,  I  put  my  ear  to  the  stone, 
when  the  old  man  gave  my  head  such  a  violent  thump 
against  it,  that  I  was  alndost  bereft  of  sense,  and  for 
three  days  after  I  did  not  lo'Se  the  pain  I  suffered 
from  the  blow.  My  old  master  laughed  heartily  at 
the  joke  :  "  You  rogue,"  said  he,  "  you  ought  to  know 
that  a  blind  man's  boy  should  have  more  cunning 
than  the  very  devil  himself." 

It  seemed  to  me  as  though  that  moment  had 
awakened  me  from  the  simplicity  of  childhood,  and  I 
said  to  myself,  "  The  old  man  says  truly.  I  am  now 
alone,  and  if  I  do  not  keep  a  sharp  look-out  for  my- 
self, I  shall  find  none  to  assist  me."  We  commenced 
our  journey,  and  in  a  very  few  days  I  began  to  reap 
the  benefit  of  my  master's  instruction.  As  he  found 
me  an  apt  scholar,  he  was  much  pleased,  and  would 
say,  "  I  have  no  silver  or  gold  to  give  you ;  but,  what 
is  far  better,  I  can  impart  to  you  the  result  of  my 
experience,  which  will  always  enable  you  to  live; 


I4  MEND02A. 

for  though  God  has  created  me  blind,  yet  He  has 
endowed  me  with  faculties  which  have  served  me  well 
in  the  course  of  my  life."  And  I  verily  believe  that, 
since  God  created  the  world,  He  never  formed  a 
human  being  with  intellects  more  acute  than  those 
of  my  blind  old  master.  He  was  as  keen  as  an  eagle 
in  his  own  calling.  He  knew  upwards  of  a  hundred 
prayers  by  heart.  "  His  tone  of  voice  was  pleasing, 
and,  though  low,  was  distinct  enough  to  be  heard  all 
over  the  church  where  he  usually  recited  them.  His 
countenance  was  humble  and  devout ;  and  his  deport- 
ment, when  he  recited  his  prayers,  was  free  from 
affectation  and  distortion  of  visage,  which  so  many 
are  apt  to  practise. 

Besides  this,  he  had  a  thousand  other  ways  of 
making  money.  He  could  repeat  prayers  which  were 
available  for  all  occasions;  for  women  who  had  no 
children ;  for  those  who  had  expectancy ;  for  those 
likewise  who  were  unhappily  married,  and  sought  to 
increase  the  affection  of  their  husbands.  He  could 
also  prognosticate  truly  to  ladies  whether  the  result 
of  their  travail  would  be  a  boy  or  a  crirl ;  and  with 
respect  to  the  medicinal  art,  he  would  tell  you  that 
Galen  himself  was  an  ignoramus  compared  with  him- 
self. Indeed,  he  acted  as  though  he  really  thought 
so;  for  no  one  ever  came  to  consult  him,  that  he  did 
not  say  without  the  slightest  hesitation,  "  Take  this, 
do  that ; "  and  in  such  a  manner,  that  he  had  all  the 
world  after  him,  especially  the  women,  who  had  the 
utmost  confidence  in  everything  he  told  them.  By 
these  means  his  prpfits  were  very  considerable.  He 


LAZARILLO  DE  TORMES.  15 

gained  more  in  one  month  than  a  hundred  other 
blind  men  would  in  a  year. 

With  all  this,  however,  I  am  sorry  to  say  that  I 
never  met  with  so  avaricious  and  so  wicked  an  old 
curmudgeon;  he  allowed  me  almost  to  die  daily  of 
hunger,  without  troubling  himself  about  my  neces- 
sities ;  and,  to  say  the  truth,  if  I  had  not  helped  my- 
self by  means  of  a  ready  wit  and  nimble  fingers,  I 
should  have  closed  my  account  from  sheer  starvation. 

Notwithstanding  all  my  master's  astuteness  and 
cunning,  I  contrived  so  to  outwit  him  that  generally 
the  best  half  came  to  my  share.  But  to  accomplish 
this,  I  was  obliged  to  tax  my  powers  of  invention  to 
the  uttermost.  Of  this  I  will  recount  a  few  specimens, 
although  perhaps  they  may  not  tell  much  to  my 
credit.  The  old  man  was  accustomed  to  carry  his 
bread,  meat,  and  other  things  in  a  sort  of  linen  knap- 
sack, which  was  closed  at  the  mouth  with  an  iron 
ring,  and  secured  also  by  a  padlock ;  but  in  adding  to 
his  store,  or  taking  from  it,  he  used  such  vigilance 
that  it  was  almost  an  impossibility  to  cheat  him  of  a 
single  morsel.  However,  when  he  had  given  me  my 
pittance,  which  I  found  no  difficulty  in  despatching  at 
about  two  mouthfuls,  and  closed  his  budget,  thinking 
himself  perfectly  secure  from  depredation,  I  began 
my  tactics,  and  by  means  of  a  small  rent,  which  I 
slyly  effected  in  one  of  the  seams  of  the  bag,  I  used 
to  help  myself  to  the  choicest  pieces  of  meat,  bacon, 
and  sausage,  taking  care  to  close  the  seam  according 
as  opportunity  occurred.  But  in  addition  to  this,  all 
that  I  could  collect  together,  either  by  fraud  or  other- 


16  MENDOZA. 

wise,  I  carried  about  me  in  half-farthings;  so  that 
when  the  old  man  was  sent  for  to  pray,  and  they 
gave  him  farthings  (all  which  passed  through  my 
hands,  he  being  blind),'!  contrived  to  slip  them  into 
my  mouth,  by  which  process  so  quick  an  alteration 
wag  effected,  that  when  they  reached  his  hand  they 
were  invariably  reduced  to  half  the  original  value. 

The  cunning  old  fellow,  however,  suspected  me, 
for  he  used  to  say,  "  How  the  deuce  is  this  ?  ever 
since  you  have  been  with  me  they  give  me  nothing 
but  half-farthings ;  whereas  before,  it  was  not  an  un- 
usual thing  to  be  paid  with  halfpence,  but  never  less 
than  farthings.  I  must  be  sharp  with  you,  I  find." 
Whenever  we  ate,  the  old  man  took  care  to  keep  a 
small  jar  of  wine  near  him,  which  was  reserved  for 
his  own  special  service ;  but  I  very  soon  adopted  the 
practice  of  bestowing  on  this  favourite  jar  sundry 
loving  though  stolen  embraces.  Such  pleasures  were 
but  short-lived,  for  the  fervency  of  mv  attachment 
was  soon  discovered  in  the  deficiency  of  the  wine ;  and 
the  old  man  afterwards,  to  secure  his  draught,  never 
let  the  jar  -go  without  tying  it  to  him  by  the  handle. 
But  I  was  a  match  for  him  even  there;  for  I  pro- 
cured a  large  straw,  and  dipping  it  into  the  mouth  of 
the  jar,  renewed  my  intimacy  with  such  effect,  that 
but  a  small  share  was  his  who  came  after  me.  The 
old  traitor  was  not  long  in  finding  me  out ;  I  think 
he  must  have  heard  me  drink,  for  he  quickly  changed 
his  plan,  and  placed  the  iar  between  his  knees,  keep- 
ing the  mouth  closed  with  his  hand,  and  in  this  man- 
ner considered  himself  secure  from  my  depredations. 


LA2AR1LLO  t>E  TOttMES.  17 

Being  thus  deprived  of  my  customary  allowance 
from  the  jar,  I  was  ready  to  die  with  longing;  and 
finding  my  plan  of  the  straw  no  longer  available,  I 
took  an  opportunity  of  boring  a  very  small  hole  in 
the  bottom  of  the  jar,  which  I  closed  very  delicately 
with  wax.  At  dinner-time,  when  the  poor  old  man 
sat  over  the  fire,  with  the  jar  between  his  knees,  the 
heat,  slight  as  it  was,  melted  the  little  piece  of  wax 
with  which  I  closed  the  hole,  and  I,  feigning  to  be 
cold,  drew  close  to  the  fire,  and  placed  my  mouth 
under  the  little  fountain  in  such  a  manner  that  the 
whole  contents  of  the  jar  came  to  my  share.  When 
the  old  boy  had  finished  his  meal,  and  thought  to 
regale  himself  with  his  draught  of  wine,  the  deuce 
a  drop  did  he  find,  which  so  enraged  and  surprised 
him,  that  he  thought  the  devil  himself  had  been  at 
work ;  nor  could  he  conceive  how  it  could  be.  "  Now, 
uncle,"  said  I,  "  don't  say  that  I  drank  your  wine, 
seeing  that  you  have  had  your  hand  on  it  the  whole 
time."  But  he  was  not  satisfied  with  my  declaration 
of  innocence,  so  turning  and  twisting  the  jar  about 
in  every  direction,  he  at  last  discovered  the  hole, 
which  at  once  let  him  into  the  secret  of  my  ingenious 
contrivance.  He  concealed  his  discovery  so  well,  that 
I  had  not  the  slightest  suspicion  that  my  ruse  was 
detected;  so  the  next  day,  having  prepared  my  jar  as 
before,  little  foreseeing  the  consequences,  nor  dream- 
ing of  the  wicked  thoughts  which  were  passing  in  the 
old  man's  mind,  I  placed  myself  under  the  jar,  which 
presently  began  to  distil  its  delicious  contents,  my 
face  turned  towards  heaven,  and  my  eyes  partly 
VOL.  I.  B 


18  MEtiDOZA . 

closed,  the  better  to  enjoy  the  delightful  draught. 
The  evil-minded  old  man,  judging  this  to  be  the 
time  to  take  his  vengeance,  raised  with  both  hands 
the  sweet,  though  alas,  to  me,  bitter  jar,  and  let  it 
fall  directly  on  my  mouth,  adding  to  its  weight  by 
giving  all  the  impetus  in  his  power.  The  poor  un- 
happy Lazaro,  who  little  reckoned  on  such  a  disaster, 
but  had  quietly  resigned  himself  to  the  delicious 
enjoyment  of  the  moment,  verily  believed  in  the 
crash  which  succeeded,  that  the  heavens,  with  all 
they  contained,  had  fallen  upon  him.  The  blow  was 
so  tremendous  that  my  senses  fairly  left  me,  and  the 
jar  breaking,  cut  my  face  in  many  places,  several 
pieces  remaining  in  the  wounds,  besides  breaking 
nearly  all  my  teeth,  the  loss  of  which  I  feel  to  this 
very  day. 

From  that  hour  I  bore  an  inveterate  grudge  against 
my  old  rogue  of  a  master,  for  though  he  attended  to 
me,  and  cured  me  of  my  wounds,  I  could  plainly  see 
that  he  enjoyed  my  cruel  chastisement.  He  washed 
the  wounds  with  wine  which  the  broken  jar  had 
made  in  my  face ;  and  would  say  smiling,  "  Lazaro, 
my  boy,  what  is  that  which  makes  you  ill,  cures  you, 
and  gives  you  strength  ?  "  with  other  little  witticisms, 
which  he  would  repeat,  not  by  any  means  to  my 
taste. 

When  I  was  nearly  cured  of  my  wounds  and  bruises, 
considering  that  by  a  few  more  such  pleasantries  the 
old  man  would  effectually  get  rid  of  me,  I  began  to 
think  how  I  might  in  the  best  manner  get  rid  of  him ; 
however,!  resolved  to  wait  until  an  opportunity  should 


LAZAR1LLO  DE  TORMES.  19 

offer  of  effecting  my  purpose  with  safety  to  myself, 
and  more  to  my  satisfaction  with  regard  to  the  past 
proceedings  of  my  master. 

Although  I  might  in  time  have  pardoned  the  jar 
adventure,  yet  the  continual  ill-treatment  to  which 
I  was  henceforward  subjected,  kept  alive  the  vindic- 
tive feeling  which  it  originally  occasioned ;  for  now, 
upon  the  slightest  occasion,  and  even  without  cause, 
he  would  beat  and  flog  me  without  any  mercy.  If 
any  humane  person  interfered,  he  immediately  re- 
counted the  history  of  the  jar,  prefacing  it  with  some 
such  expression  as,  "Don't  believe  the  young  rogue 
is  quite  so  innocent  as  he  looks;  just  listen,  and  then 
say  whether  the  devil  himself  would  ever  have  had 
the  cunning  to  do  the  like."  Those  who  listened 
would  reply,  "Who  could  have  thought  that  so  much 
wickedness  could  be  packed  in  such  a  small  compass? " 
and  they  would  laugh  heartily  at  my  exploit,  and  say, 
"  Thrash  him  well,  good  man ;  thrash  him  well ;  he 
deserves  it  richly !  "  With  such  encouraging  advice 
he  persevered  to  the  very  letter,  and  I  can  say  to  my 
cost,  that  in  his  leisure  hours  he  did  little  else;  in 
return,  I  took  him  over  the  worst  roads  I  could  find, 
aud  led  him  wherever  there  was  the  slightest  chance 
of  his  hurting  himself.  If  stones  were  near,  over  the 
very  sharpest;  if  mud,  through  the  deepest;  and 
although  this  mode  of  travelling  was  not  the  plea- 
santest,  yet  if  I  inconvenienced  myself,  I  annoyed 
the  old  man  still  more,  which  was  all  I  desired  to  do. 
It  is  true  that  my  head  and  shoulders  were  subjected 
in  consequence  to  the  angry  visitations  of  his  staff; 


26  MEND02A. 

and  though  T  continually  assured  him  that  his  uneasy 
travelling  was  not  the  result  of  my  ill-will,  but  for 
want  of  better  roads,  yet  the  old  traitor  had  too 
much  cunning  to  believe  a  word  I  said. 

That  I  may  not  be  tiresome,  I  shall  omit  many 
curious  anecdotes  of  this  my  first  service,  and  will 
only  relate  the  following,  and  then  say  how  I  at  last 
took  my  leave  of  my  blind  master.  We  were  in 
Espalona,  a  place  belonging  to  the  Duke  of  that 
name,  when  one  day  he  gave  me  a  piece  of  a  large 
sausage  to  cook.  While  the  sausage  was  in  the 
roaster  before  the  fire,  he  regaled  himself  with  the 
dripping;  and  then  taking  out  his  purse,  gave  me  a 
halfpenny  to  fetch  him  some  wine.  I  don't  know 
how  it  was,  unless  the  devil  placed  the  means  before 
my  eyes,  but  I  was  tempted  to  play  the  thief;  for  on 
looking  round  I  saw  a  turnip,  not  unlike  the  shape 
of  the  sausage,  which  had  been  thrown  away  as  unfit 
for  use.  There  was  nobody  near  us,  and  I,  with  a 
raging  appetite,  still  further  stimulated  by  the  savoury 
smell  of  the  sausage,  which  I  knew  full  well  was  all 
the  old  man  intended  for  my  share,  without  a  thought 
for  the  consequences,  snatched  the  sausage  from  the 
roaster  while  the  old  man  was  fumbling  for  his 
money,  and  in  a  twinkling  supplied  its  place  with 
the  turnip. 

As  I  started  for  the  wine,  my  master  began  to  blow 
up  the  fire,  thinking  the  more  speedily  to  cook  what 
his  miserable  parsimony  and  my  urgent  appetite  had 
caused  to  vanish.  On  my  road  for  the  wine,  I  was 
not  long  in  despatching  the  sausage;  and  when  I 


LAZARILLO  DE  TORMES.  11 

returned,  I  found  the  miserable  old  sinner  with  the 
turnip  stuck  between  two  slices  of  bread,  preparing, 
as  he  thought,  to  make  a  most  delicious  repast.  As 
he  bit  through  the  bread,  however,  thinking  to  take 
part  of  the  sausage,  his  teeth  encountered  the  cold 
hard  turnip,  when  the  truth  flashing  on  his  mind,  he 
exclaimed  in  an  altered  tone,  "  Lazarillo,  how  is  this?" 
"  Mercy  on  me,"  said  I,  "  do  you  suspect  me  ?  Have 
I  not  this  instant  returned  with  your  wine  ?  Some- 
body has  been  here  and  played  this  trick  upon  you." 
"  No,  no,"  said  he,  "  my  hand  has  been  on  the  roaster 
all  the  time,  that  is  impossible."  I  turned  to  swear 
and  forswear  myself  as  being  innocent  of  this  fraud, 
but  little  did  the  old  man  credit  me.  He  arose,  and 
seizing  me  by  the  head,  as  he  possessed  as  keen  a 
scent  as  a  spaniel,  determined  to  satisfy  himself  of  the 
truth  ;  so  opening  my  mouth  by  main  force,  he  thrust 
therein  his  ugly  nose,  which  was  long  and  pointed, 
and  at  that  time  had  increased  considerably  in  length 
from  spite  and  anger.  With  this,  and  the  excessive 
fear  which  came  over  me,  added  to  the  shortness  of 
time  allowed  for  my  stomach  to  settle,  and  more  than 
all,  the  tickling  of  that  immense  proboscis,  so  un- 
pleasant a  feeling  began  to  manifest  itself,  that  hardly 
had  the  old  man  withdrawn  his  trunk,  than  the  whole 
contents  of  my  stomach  followed,  and  with  such  force 
as  entirely  to  cover  his  face.  Had  he  not  been  blind 
before,  his  eyesight  could  hardly  have  escaped  such 
an  explosion.  O  heavens!  what  were  my  feelings 
at  that  unhappy  moment!  never  shall  I  forget  it! 
5uch  was  the  rage  of  that  diabolical  old  man,  that 


22  MENDOZA. 

had  not  my  screams  attracted  some  people,  I  verily 
believe  I  should  never  have  escaped  with  life. 

I  escaped  from  his  hands  in  the  best  way  I  could, 
leaving  the  few  hairs  that  remained  to  me  in  his 
grasp,  my  face,  neck,  and  throat  bearing  the  marks 
of  his  vindictive  talons.  Lest  the  bystanders  should 
compassionate  me,  the  old  man  recounted  my  exploits 
to  them,  which  set  them  into  such  a  roar  of  laughter, 
that  the  place  soon  became  thronged  like  a  fair.  And 
with  such  humour  did  the  old  rogue  varnish  my  mis- 
deeds, that,  weeping  and  wounded  as  I  was,  I  could 
easily  forgive  their  mirth. 

While  this  was  going  on,  the  remembrance  of  a 
singular  want  of  wit  and  keenness  occurred  to  me, 
which  not  only  betrayed  my  incapacity,  but  a  cow- 
ardly and  grovelling  fear,  for  which  I  could  not  easily 
forgive  myself.  It  was  that,  when- 1  had  the  oppor- 
tunity, I  did  not  bite  off  the  old  fellow's  nose,  seeing 
that  at  one  time  it  was  so  completely  in  my  power, 
and  by  that  means  save  myself  all  the  unpleasantness 
I  now  endured  by  not  being  able  to  turn  the  laugh 
against  my  tormentor. 

The  innkeeper's  wife,  and  some  others  who  were 
there,  now  washed  my  face  and  neck  with  the  wine 
I  had  brought,  and  this  afforded  the  old  man  another 
opportunity  for  a  joke,  saying,  "Of  a  truth,  this  boy 
costs  me  more  wine  for  one  washing  of  his  wounds 
than  I  drink  in  two  days."  And  then  he  told  how 
many  times  he  had  scarified  me  and  cured  me  with 
wine ;  "  If  ever  man  in  the  world/'  he  said,  "  is  for- 
tunate by  wine,  it  will  be  you."  Those  who  were 


LAZARILLO  DE  TORMES.  23 

bathing  my  face  could  not  help  laughing  at  the  old 
fellow's  humour,  though  I  was  wincing  with  the 
smart,  not  only  of  his  jibes  but  of  his  blows.  This 
prophecy  of  the  old  man  did  not  turn  out  false ;  and 
oftentimes  have  I  since  thought  of  him,  and  what  he 
made  me  suffer,  though  in  the  end  I  paid  him  well 
for  it,  little  dreaming  that  what  he  then  rapped  out 
in  jest  would  so  turn  out. 

Considering  the  injuries  I  had  sustained,  in  addition 
to  the  ridicule  to  which  I  was  continually  exposed,  I 
determined  at  all  hazards  to  leave  the  old  tyrant  to 
his  fate,  and  chose  the  following  opportunity  of  doing 
so.  The  next  day  we  went  about  the  town  to  ask 
alms;  but  as  the  weather  turned  out  very  wet,  we 
did  not  stir  from  beneath  the  arcades,  with  which 
this  place  is  provided.  As  the  night  approached,  and 
the  rain  had  not  ceased,  the  old  man  said,  "  Lazaro, 
this  wet  weather  is  very  unwholesome,  and  as  night 
comes  on  it  will  be  still  more  so,  let  us  therefore  get 
home  in  good  time." 

On  our  return  we  had  to  pass  a  small  stream  of 
water,  which  with  the  day's  rain  had  considerably 
increased.  I  therefore  said,  "  Uncle,  the  brook  is 
very  much  swollen ;  but  I  see  a  place  a  little  higher, 
where,  by  giving  a  little  jump,  we  may  pass  almost 
dry  shod."  "  Thou  art  a  good  lad,"  said  the  old 
man;  "  I  like  you  for  your  carefulness.  Take  me  to 
the  narrowest  part,  for  at  this  time  of  the  year  to  get 
one's  feet  wet  would  be  dangerous."  Delighted  that 
my  plot  seemed  to  succeed  so  well,  I  led  him  from 
beneath  the  arcades,  and  took  him  directly  opposite 


24  AfENDOZA. 

to  a  pillar,  or  rather  a  large  stone  post,  which  T 
observed  in  the  square.  "Now,  uncle,"  said  I, 
"this  is  the  place  where  the  brook  is  the  narrow- 
est." The  rain  was  pouring  down,  and  the  old  man 
was  getting  very  wet;  and  whether  it  was  by  haste 
he  made  to  avoid  it,  or,  what  was  more  probable, 
Providence  had  at  that  moment  beguiled  him  of  his 
usual  cunning,  that  he  might  the  more  readily  fall 
into  the  snare,  and  give  me  my  revenge;  so  it  was, 
that  for  once  he  believed  me,  and  said,  "  Now  place 
me  directly  opposite  the  spot,  and  then  jump  your- 
self." I  "placed  him  exactly  opposite  the  pillar,  so 
that  he  could  not  miss  it,  and  leaping  myself,  I  took 
my  position  immediately  behind  it,  crying  out, 
"  Now,  master,  jump  with  all  your  force,  and  you 
will  clear  the  water."  I  had  hardly  said  the  words, 
when  the  poor  old  rogue  jumped  up  as  nimbly  as  a 
goat,  giving  all  his  strength  to  the  leap,  and  taking  a 
step  or  two  backwards  by  way  of  impetus,  which 
lent  him  such  force,  that  instead  of  alighting  on  soft 
ground  as  he  supposed,  he  gave  his  poor  bald  pate 
such  a  smash  against  the  pillar,  that  he  fell  on  the 
pavement  without  sense  or  motion. 

"  Take  that,  you  unhappy  old  thief,"  said  I,  "  and 
remember  the  sausage ; "  then  leaving  him  to  the  care 
of  the  people  who  began  to  gather  around,  I  took  to 
my  heels  as  swiftly  as  possible  through  the  town 
gates,  and  before  night  reached  Torrijos.  What 
became  of  the  old  man  afterwards  I  don't  know,  and 
neither  did  I  ever  give  myself  any  pains  to  inquire. 


CHAPTER    II. 

ROW    LAZARO     ENTERED     INTO      THE     SERVICE    OF    A 
PRIEST,    AND    WHAT  ENSUED. 

THE  next  day,  not  considering  myself  quite  safe 
where  I  was,  I  went  to  a  place  called  Maqueda, 
where,  as  it  were  in  punishment  of  my  evil  deeds, 
T  fell  in  with  a  certain  priest.  I  accosted  him  for 
alms,  when  he  inquired  whether  I  knew  how  to  assist 
at  mass.  I  answered  that  I  did,  which  was  true, 
for  the  old  man,  notwithstanding  his  ill  treatment, 
taught  me  many  useful  things, — and  this  was  one 
of  them.  The  priest,  therefore,  engaged  me  on 
the  spot. 

There  is  an  old  proverb  which  speaks  of  getting 
out  of  the  frying-pan  into  the  fire,  which  was  indeed 
my  unhappy  case  in  this  change  of  masters.  The  old 
blind  man,  selfish  as  he  was,  seemed  an  Alexander 
the  Great,  in  point  of  munificence,  on  comparison 
with  this  priest,  who  was,  without  exception,  the 
most  niggardly  of  all  miserable  devils  I  have  ever 
met  with.  It  seemed  as  though  the  meanness  of 
the  whole  world  was  gathered  together  in  his 
wretched  person.  It  would  be  hard  to  say  whether 
he  inherited  this  disposition,  or  whether  he  had 
adopted  it  with  his  cassock  and  gown.  He  had  a 


26  MEN  DO  Z A. 

large  old  chest,  well  secured  by  a  lock,  the  key  of 
which  he  always  carried  about  him,  tied  to  a  part  of 
his  clothing.  When  the  charity  bread  came  from 
the  church,  he  would  with  his  own  hands  deposit  it 
in  the  chest,  and  then  carefully  turn  the  key. 

Throughout  the  whole  house  there  was  nothing 
to  eat.  Even  the  sight  of  such  things  as  we  see 
in  other  houses,  such  as  smoked  bacon,  cheese,  or 
bread,  would  have  done  my  heart  good,  although  I 
might  have  been  forbidden  to  taste  them.  The  only 
eatable  we  had  was  a  string  of  onions,  and  these  were 
locked  up  in  a  garret.  Every  fourth  day  I  was 
allowed  one ;  and  when  I  asked  for  the  key  to  take 
it,  if  any  one  chanced  to  be  present,  he  would  make 
a  serious  matter  of  it,  saying,  as  he  gave  me  the  key, 
"  Take  it,  and  return  quickly ;  for  when  you  go  to 
that  tempting  room,  you  never  know  when  to  come 
out  of  it ; " — speaking  as  though  all  the  sweets  of 
Valencia  were  there,  when  I  declare  to  you,  as  I  said 
before,  the  devil  a  bit  of  anything  was  there  but  this 
string  of  onions  hung  on  a  nail,  and  of  these  he  kept 
such  an  account,  that  if  my  unlucky  stars  had  tempted 
me  to  take  more  than  my  allowance,  it  would  have 
cost  me  very  dear. 

In  the  end  I  should  in  fact  have  died  of  hunger, 
with  so  little  feeling  did  this  reverend  gentleman 
treat  me,  although  with  himself  he  was  rather  more 
liberal.  Five  farthings'  worth  of  meat  was  his  allow- 
ance for  dinner  and  supper.  It  is  true  that  he  divided 
the  broth  with  me;  but  my  share  of  the  meat  I  might 
have  put  in  my  eye  instead  of  my  mouth,  and  have 


LAZARILLO  DE  TORMES.  rr 

been  none  the  worse  for  it :  but  sometimes,  by  good 
luck,  I  got  a  little  morsel  of  bread.  In  this  part  of 
the  country  it  is  the  custom  on  Sundays  to  eat  sheep's 
heads,  and  he  sent  me  for  one  that  was  not  to  come 
to  more  than  three  farthings.  When  it  was  cooked, 
he  ate  all  the  tit  bits,  and  never  left  it  while  a  morsel 
of  the  meat  remained ;  but  the  dry  bones  he  turned 
over  to  me,  saying,  "  There,  you  rogue,  eat  that ;  you 
are  in  rare  luck ;  the  Pope  himself  has  not  such  fare 
as  you.  "  God  give  him  as  good  ! "  said  I  to  myself. 

At  the  end  of  the  three  weeks  that  I  remained  with 
him,  I  arrived  at  such  an  extreme  degree  of  exhaus- 
tion, from  sheer  hunger,  that  it  was  with  difficulty  I 
stood  on  my  legs.  I  saw  clearly  that  I  was  in  the 
direct  road  to  the  grave,  unless  God  and  my  own 
wit  should  help  me  out  of  it.  For  the  dextrous 
application  of  my  fingers  there  was  no  opportunity 
afforded  me,  seeing  there  was  nothing  to  practise 
on ;  and  if  there  were,  I  should  never  have  been  able 
to  have  cheated  the  priest  as  I  did  the  old  man, 
whom  God  absolve,  if  by  my  means  it  went  ill  with 
him  after  his  leap.  The  old  man,  though  cunning,  yet 
wanting  sight,  gave  me  now  and  then  a  chance ;  but 
as  to  the  priest,  never  had  any  so  keen  a  sight  as  he. 

When  we  were  at  mass,  no  money  came  to  the 
plate  at  the  offering  that  he  did  not  observe :  he  had 
one  eye  on  the  people  and  the  other  on  my  fingers. 
His  eyes  danced  about  the  money-box  as  though 
they  were  quicksilver.  When  offerings  were  given, 
he  kept  an  account,  and  when  it  was  finished,  that 
instant  he  would  take  the  plate  from  my  hands,  and 


28  MENDOZA. 

put  it  on  the  altar.  I  was  not  able  to  rob  him  of  a 
single  maravedi  in  all  the  time  I  lived  with  him, 
or  rather  all  the  time  I  starved  with  him.  I  never 
fetched  him  any  wine  from  the  tavern,  but  the  little 
that  was  left  at  church  he  locked  up  in  his  chest, 
and  he  would  make  that  serve  all  the  week.  In 
order  to  excuse  all  this  covetousness,  he  said  to 
me,  "  You  see,  my  boy,  that  priests  ought  to  be  very 
abstemious  in  their  food.  For  my  part,  I  think  it  a 
great  scandal  to  indulge  in  viands  and  wine  as  many 
do."  But  the  curmudgeon  lied  most  grossly,  for  at 
convents  or  at  funerals,  when  we  went  to  pray,  he 
would  eat  like  a  wolf,  and  drink  like  a  mountebank ; 
and  now  I  speak  of  funerals — God  forgive  me,  I  was 
never  an  enemy  to  the  human  race  but  at  that 
unhappy  period  of  my  life,  and  the  reason  was  solely 
that  on  those  occasions  I  obtained  a  meal  of  victuals. 

Every  day  did  I  hope,  and  even  pray,  that  God 
would  be  pleased  to  take  His  own.  Whenever  we 
were  sent  for  to  administer  the  sacrament  to  the  sick, 
the  priest  would  of  course  desire  all  present  to  join 
in  prayer.  You  may  be  certain  I  was  not  the  last 
in  these  devout  exercises,  and  I  prayed  with  all  my 
heart  that  the  Lord  would  compassionate  the  afflicted, 
not  by  restoring  him  to  the  vanities  of  life,  but  by 
relieving  him  from  the  sins  of  this  world ;  and  when 
any  of  these  unfortunates  recovered — the  Lord  for- 
give me — in  the  anguish  of  my  heart  I  wished  him 
a  thousand  times  in  perdition ;  but  if  he  died,  no  one 
was  more  sincere  in  his  blessings  than  myself. 

During  all  the  time  I  was  in  this  service,  which 


LA2ARILLO  DE  TORMES.  29 

was  nearly  six  months,  only  twenty  persons  paid  the 
debt  of  nature,  and  these  I  verily  believe  that  I 
killed,  or  rather  that  they  died,  by  the  incessant 
importunity  of  my  particular  prayers.  Such  was  my 
extreme  suffering,  as  to  make  me  think  that  the 
Lord,  compassionating  my  unhappy  and  languishing 
condition,  visited  some  with  death  to  give  me  life. 
But  for  my  present  necessity  there  was  no  remedy ; 
if  on  the  days  of  funerals  I  lived  well,  the  return  to 
my  old  allowance  of  an  onion  every  fourth  day 
seemed  doubly  hard;  so  that  I  may  truly  say,  I  took 
delight  in  nothing  but  death,  and  oftentimes  I  have 
invoked  it  for  myself  as  well  as  for  others.  To  me, 
however,  it  did  not  arrive,  although  continually 
hovering  about  me  in  the  ugly  shape  of  famine  and 
short  commons.  I  thought  many  times  of  leaving 
my  brute  of  a  master,  but  two  reflections  disconcerted 
me;  the  first  was,  the  doubt  whether  I  could  make 
my  way  by  reason  of  the  extreme  weakness  to  which 
hunger  had  reduced  me;  and  the  second  suggested, 
that  my  first  master,  having  done  his  best  to  starve 
me,  and  my  next  having  succeeded  so  far  in  the 
same  humane  object  as  to  bring  me  to  the  brink  of 
the  grave,  whether  the  third  might  not,  by  pursuing 
the  same  course,  actually  thrust  me  into  it. 

These  considerations  made  me  now  pause,  lest,  by 
venturing  a  step  farther,  it  would  be  my  certain  fate 
to  be  a  point  lower  in  fortune,  and  then  the  world 
might  truly  say,  "  Farewell  Lazaro." 

It  was  during  this  trying  and  afflicting  time, 
when,  seeing  things  going  from  bad  to  worse,  with- 


jo  MENDOZA. 

out  any  one  to  advise  with,  I  was  praying  with  all 
Christian  humility  that  I  might  be  released  from 
such  misery,  that  one  day,  when  my  wretched, 
miserable,  covetous  thief  of  a  master  had  gone  out, 
an  angel,  in  the  likeness  of  a  tinker,  knocked  at  the 
door — for  I  verily  believe  he  was  directed  by  Provid- 
ence to  assume  that  habit  and  employment — and 
inquired  whether  I  had  anything  to  mend  ?  Sud- 
denly a  light  flashed  upon  me,  as  though  imparted 
by  an  invisible  and  unknown  power :  "  Uncle," 
said  I,  "  I  have  unfortunately  lost  the  key  of  this 
great  chest,  and  I'm  sadly  afraid  my  master  will  beat 
me;  for  God's  sake  try  if  you  can  fit  it,  and  I  will 
reward  you."  The  angelic  tinker  drew  forth  a  lanre 
bunch  of  keys,  and  began  to  try  them,  while  I 
assisted  his  endeavours  with  my  feeble  prayers; 
when  lo !  and  behold !  when  least  I  thought  it,  the 
lid  of  the  chest  arose,  and  I  almost  fancied  I  beheld 
the  divine  essence  therein  in  the  shape  of  loaves  of 
bread.  "  I  have  no  money,"  said  I  to  my  preserver, 
"  but  give  me  the  key  and  help  yourself."  He  took 
some  of  the  whitest  and  best  bread  he  could  find, 
and  went  away  well  pleased,  though  not  half  so  well 
as  myself.  I  refrained  from  taking  any  for  the 
present,  lest  the  deficiency  might  be  noticed;  and 
contented  myself  with  the  hope  that,  on  seeing  so 
much  in  my  power,  hunger  would  hardly  dare  to 
approach  me. 

My  wretched  master  returned,  and  it  pleased  God 
that  the  offering  my  angel  had  been  pleased  to  accept, 
remained  undiscovered  by  him.  The  next  day,  when 


LAZARILLO  DE  TORMES.  31 

he  went  out,  I  went  to  my  farinaceous  paradise,  and 
taking  a  loaf  between  my  hands  and  teeth,  in  a 
twinkling  it  became  invisible ;  then,  not  forgetting  to 
lock  the  treasure,  I  capered  about  the  house  for  joy 
to  think  that  my  miserable  life  was  about  to  change, 
and  for  some  days  following  I  was  as  happy  as  a 
king.  But  it  was  not  predestined  for  me  that  such 
good  luck  should  continue  long;  on  the  third  day 
symptoms  of  my  old  complaint  began  to  show  them- 
selves, for  I  beheld  my  murderer  in  the  act  of  ex- 
amiiiuig  our  chest,  turning  and  counting  the  loaves 
over  and  over  again.  Of  course  I  dissimulated  my 
terror,  but  it  was  not  for  want  of  my  prayers  and 
invocations  that  he  was  not  struck  stone-blind  like 
my  old  master — but  he  retained  his  eyesight. 

After  he  had  been  some  time  considering  and 
counting,  he  said,  "  If  I  were  not  well  assured  of  the 
security  of  this  chest,  I  should  say  that  somebody 
had  stolen  my  bread ;  but,  however,  to  remove  all 
suspicion,  from  this  day  I  shall  count  the  loaves; 
there  remain  now  exactly  nine  and  a  piece." 

"  May  nine  curses  light  upon  you,  you  miserable 
beggar,"  said  I  to  myself — for  his  words  went  like 
an  arrow  to  my  heart,  and  hunger  already  began  to 
attack  me,  seeing  a  return  to  my  former  scanty  fare 
now  inevitable. 

No  sooner  did  the  priest  go  out,  than  I  opened  the 
chest  to  console  myself  even  with  the  sight  of  food, 
and  as  I  gazed  on  the  nice  white  loaves,  a  sort  of 
adoration  rose  within  me,  which  the  sight  of  such 
tempting  morsels  could  alone  inspire.  I  counted 


32  MENDOZA. 

them  carefully  to  see,  if  perchance,  the  curmudgeon 
had  mistaken  the  number ;  but,  alas !  I  found  he  was 
a  much  better  reckoner  than  I  could  have  desired. 
The  utmost  I  dared  do,  was  to  bestow  on  these 
objects  of  my  affection  a  thousand  kisses,  and,  in  the 
most  delicate  manner  possible,  to  nibble  here  and 
there  a  morsel  of  the  crust.  With  this  I  passed  the 
day,  and  not  quite  so  jovially  as  the  former,  you  may 
suppose. 

But  as  hunger  increased,  and  more  so  in  proportion 
as  I  had  fared  better  the  few  days  previously,  I  was 
reduced  to  the  last  ex'tremity.  Yet  all  I  could  do 
was  to  open  and  shut  the  chest,  and  contemplate  the 
divine  image  within.  Providence,  however,  who  does 
not  neglect  mortals  in  such  an  extreme  crisis,  sug- 
gested to  me  a  slight  palliation  of  my  present  distress. 
After  some  consideration,  I  said  within  myself,  "This 
chest  is  very  large  and  old,  and  in  some  parts,  though 
very  slightly,  is  broken.  It  is  not  impossible  to  sup- 
pose that  rats  may  have  made  an  entrance,  and 
gnawed  the  bread.  To  take  a  whole  loaf  would  not 
be  wise,  seeing  that  it  would  be  missed  by  my  most 
liberal  master;  but  the  other  plan  he  shall  certainly 
have  the  benefit  of."  Then  I  began  to  pick  the 
loaves  on  some  table-cloths  which  were  there,  not  of 
the  most  costly  sort,  taking  one  loaf  and  leaving 
another,  so  that  in  the  end,  I  made  up  a  tolerable 
supply  of  crumbs,  which  I  ate  like  so  many  sugar- 
plums; and  with  that  I  in  some  measure  consoled 
myself  and  contrived  to  live. 

The  priest,  when  he  came  home  to  dinner  and 


LAZARILLO  DE  TORMES.  33 

opened  the  chest,  beheld  with  dismay  the  havoc 
made  in  his  store;  but  he  immediately  supposed  it  to 
have  been  occasioned  by  rats,  so  well  had  I  imitated 
the  style  of  those  depredators.  He  examined  the 
chest  narrowly,  and  discovered  the  little  holes  through 
which  the  rats  might  have  entered ;  and  calling  me, 
he  said,  "  Lazaro,  look  what  havoc  has  been  made  in 
our  bread  during  the  night."  I  seemed  very  much 
astonished,  and  asked  what  it  could  possibly  be? 
"What  has  done  it?"  quoth  he,  "why,  rats;  con- 
found 'em,  there  is  no  keeping  anything  from  them." 
I  fared  well  at  dinner,  and  had  no  reason  to  repent 
of  the  trick  I  played,  for  he  pared  off  all  the  places 
which  he  supposed  the  rats  had  nibbled  at,  and,  giving 
them  to  me,  he  said,  "  There,  eat  that,  rats  are  very 
clean  animals."  In  this  manner,  adding  what  I  thus 
gained  to  that  acquired  by  the  labour  of  my  hands, 
or  rather  my  nails,  I  managed  tolerably  well,  though 
I  little  expected  it.  I  was  destined  to  receive  another 
shock,  when  I  beheld  my  miserable  tormentor  care- 
fully stopping  up  all  the  holes  in  the  chest  with  small 
pieces  of  wood,  which  he  nailed  over  them,  and  which 
bade  defiance  to  further  depredations.  "  O  Lord  !  "  I 
cried  involuntarily,  "  to  what  distress  and  misfortunes 
are  we  unhappy  mortals  reduced ;  and  how  short- 
lived are  the  pleasures  of  this  our  transitory  existence ! 
No  sooner  did  I  draw  some  little  relief  from  the  mea- 
sure which  kind  fortune  suggested,  than  it  is  snatched 
away ;  and  this  last  act  is  like  closing  the  door  of 
consolation  against  me,  and  opening  that  of  my 
misfortunes." 

VOL.  I.  C 


34  MEND02A. 

It  was  thus  T  gave  vent  to  my  distress,  while  the 
careful  workman,  with  abundance  of  wood  and  nails, 
was  finishing  his  cruel  job,  saying  with  great  glee, 
"  Now,  you  rascals  of  rats,  we  will  change  sides,  if 
you  please,  for  your  future  reception  in  this  house 
will  be  right  little  welcome." 

The  moment  he  left  the  house,  I  went  to  examine 
his  work,  and  found  he  had  not  left  a  single  hole 
unstopped  by  which  even  a  mosquito  could  enter. 
I  opened  the  chest,  though  without  deriving  the 
smallest  benefit  from  its  contents;  my  key  was  now 
utterly  useless ;  but  as  I  gazed  with  longing  eyes  on 
the  two  or  three  loaves  which  my  master  believed  to 
be  bitten  by  the  rats,  I  could  not  resist  the  temptation 
of  nibbling  a  morsel  more,  though  touching  them  in 
the  lightest  possible  manner,  like  an  experienced 
swordsman  in  a  friendly  assault. 

Necessity  is  a  great  master,  and  being  in  this 
strait,  I  passed  night  and  day  in  devising  means 
to  get  out  of  it.  All  the  rascally  plans  that  could 
enter  the  mind  of  man,  did  hunger  suggest  to  me; 
for  it  is  a  saying,  and  a  true  one,  as  I  can  testify, 
that  hunger  makes  rogues,  and  abundance  fools. 
One  night,  when  my  master  slept,  of  which  disposi- 
tion he  always  gave  sonorous  testimony,  as  I  was 
revolving  in  my  mind  the  best  mode  of  renewing 
my  intimacy  with  the  contents  of  the  chest,  a 
thought  struck  me,  which  I  forthwith  put  in  execu- 
tion. I  arose  very  quietly,  and  taking  an  old  knife, 
which,  having  some  little  glimmering  of  the  same 
idea  the  day  previous,  I  had  left  for  an  occasion  of 


LAZAR1LLO  £>E  TORMES.  35 

this  nature,  I  repaired  to  the  chest,  and  at  the  part 
which  I  considered  least  guarded,  I  began  to  bore  a 
hole.  The  antiquity  of  the  chest  seconded  my 
endeavours,  for  the  wood  had  become  rotten  from 
age,  and  easily  yielded  to  the  knife,  so  that  in  a  short 
time  I  managed  to  display  a  hole  of  very  respectable 
dimensions.  I  then  opened  the  chest  very  gently, 
and  taking  out  the  bread,  I  treated  it  much  in  the 
same  manner  as  heretofore,  and  then  returned  safe  to 
my  mattress. 

The  next  day  my  worthy  master  soon  spied  my 
handiwork,  as  well  as  the  deficiency  in  his  bread,  and 
besran  by  wishing  the  rats  at  the  devil.  "  What  can 
it  mean  ? "  said  he ;  "  during  all  the  time  I  have  been 
here,  there  have  never  been  rats  in  the  house  before." 
And  he  might  say  so  with  truth ;  if  ever  a  house  in 
the  kingdom  deserved  to  be  free  from  rats,  it  was  his, 
as  they  are  seldom  known  to  visit  where  there  is 
nothing  to  eat.  He  began  again  with  nails  and 
wood;  but  when  night  came,  and  he  slept,  I  re- 
sumed my  operations,  and  rendered  nugatory  all 
his  ingenuity. 

In  this  manner  we  went  on ;  the  moment  he  shut 
one  door,  I  opened  another:  like  the  web  of  Pene- 
lope, what  he  spun  by  day,  I  unravelled  by  night; 
and  in  the  course  of  a  few  nights  the  old  chest  was 
so  maltreated,  that  little  remained  of  the  original 
that  was  not  covered  with  pieces  and  nailing.  When 
the  unhappy  priest  found  his  mechanical  ability  of  no 
avail,  he  said,  "  Really  this  chest  is  in  such  a  state, 
and  the  wood  is  so  old  and  rotten,  that  the  rats  make 


36  MEND02A. 

nothing  of  it.  The  best  plan  T  can  think  of,  since 
what  we  have  done  is  of  no  use,  is  to  arm  ourselves 
within,  against  these  cursed  rats."  He  then  bor- 
rowed a  rat-trap,  and  baiting  it  with  bits  of  cheese 
which  he  begged  from  the  neighbours,  set  it  under 
the  chest.  This  was  a  piece  of  singular  good  for- 
tune for  me,  for  although  my  hunger  needed  no 
sauce,  yet  I  did  not  nibble  the  bread  at  night  with 
less  relish  because  I  added  thereto  the  bait  from  the 
rat-trap.  When  in  the  morning  he  found  not 
only  the  bread  gone  as  usual,  but  the  bait  likewise 
vanished,  and  the  trap  without  a  tenant,  he  grew 
almost  beside  himself.  He  ran  to  the  neighbours, 
and  asked  of  them  what  animal  it  could  possibly  be 
that  could  positively  eat  the  very  cheese  out  of  the 
trap,  and  yet  escape  untouched.  The  neighbours 
agreed  that  it  could  be  no  rat  that  could  thus  eat  the 
bait,  and  not  remain  within  the  trap,  and  one  more 
cunning  than  the  rest  observed,  "  I  remember  once 
seeing  a  snake  about  your  premises,  and  depend  on  it 
that  is  the  animal  which  has  done  you  this  mischief, 
for  it  could  easily  pick  the  bait  from  the  trap  with- 
out entering  entirely,  and  thus  too  it  might  easily 
escape."  The  rest  all  agreed  that  such  must  be  the 
fact,  which  alarmed  my  master  a  good  deal. 

He  now  slept  not  near  so  soundly  as  before,  and 
at  every  little  noise,  thinking  it  was  the  snake  bit- 
ing the  chest,  he  would  get  up,  and  taking  a  cudgel 
which  he  kept  at  his  bed's  head  for  the  purpose, 
began  to  belabour  the  poor  chest  with  all  his  might, 
so  that  the  noise  might  frighten  the  reptile  from  his 


LAZARILLO  DE  TORMES.  37 

unthrifty  proceedings.  He  even  awoke  the  neigh- 
bours with  such  prodigious  clamour,  and  I  could  not 
get  a  single  minute's  rest.  He  turned  me  out  of  bed, 
and  looked  amongst  the  straw,  and  about  the  blanket, 
to  see  if  the  creature  was  concealed  anywhere ;  for, 
as  he  observed,  at  night  they  seek  warm  places,  and 
not  unfrequently  injure  people  by  biting  them  in  bed. 
When  he  came,  I  always  pretended  to  be  very  heavy 
with  sleep,  and  he  would  say  to  me  in  the  morning, 
"  Did  you  hear  nothing  last  night,  boy  ?  The  snake 
was  about,  and  I  think  I  heard  him  at  your  bed,  for 
they  are  very  cold  creatures,  and  love  warmth."  "  I 
hope  to  God  he  will  not  bite  me/'  returned  I,  "  for  I 
am  very  much  afraid."  He  was  so  watchful  at  night 
that,  by  my  faith,  the  snake  could  not  continue  his 
operations  as  usual,  but  in  the  morning  when  the 
priest  was  at  church,  he  resumed  them  pretty  steadily 
as  usual. 

Looking  with  dismay  at  the  damage  done  to  his 
store,  and  the  little  redress  he  was  likely  to  have  for 
it,  the  poor  priest  became  quite  uneasy  from  fretting, 
and  wandered  about  all  night  like  a  hobgoblin.  I 
began  very  much  to  fear  that,  during  one  of  these 
fits  of  watchfulness,  he  might  discover  my  key,  which 
I  placed  for  security  under  the  straw  of  my  bed.  I 
therefore,  with  a  caution  peculiar  to  my  nature, 
determined  in  future  to  keep  this  treasure  by  night 
safe  in  my  mouth ;  and  this  was  an  ancient  custom 
of  mine,  for  during  the  time  I  lived  with  the  blind 
man,  my  mouth  was  my  purse,  in  which  I  could 
retain  ten  or  twelve  maravedis  in  farthings,  with- 


38  MEN  DO  7  A. 

out  the  slightest  inconvenience  in  any  way.  Indeed, 
had  I  not  possessed  this  faculty,  I  should  never  have 
had  a  single  farthing  of  my  own,  for  I  had  neither 
pocket  nor  bag  that  the  old  man  did  not  continually 
search.  Every  night  I  slept  with  the  key  in  my 
mouth  without  fear  of  discovery;  but,  alas!  when 
misfortune  is  our  lot,  ingenuity  can  be  of  little  avail. 
It  was  decreed,  by  my  evil  destiny,  or  rather,  I 
ought  to  say,  as  a  punishment  for  my  evil  doings, 
that  one  night  when  I  was  fast  asleep,  my  mouth 
being  somewhat  open,  the  key  became  placed  in  such 
a  position  therein,  that  my  breath  came  in  contact 
with  the  hollow  of  the  key,  and  caused — the  worse 
luck  for  me — a  loud  whistling  noise.  On  this  my 
watchful  master  pricked  up  his  ears,  and  thought  it 
must  be  the  hissing  of  the  snake  which  had  done  him 
all  the  damage,  and  certainly  he  was  not  altogether 
wrong  in  his  conjectures.  He  arose  very  quietly, 
with  his  club  in  his  hand,  and  stealing  towards  the 
place  whence  the  hissing  sound  proceeded,  thinking 
at  once  to  put  an  end  to  his  enemy,  he  lifted  his  club, 
and  with  all  his  force  discharged  such  a  blow  on  my 
unfortunate  head,  that  it  needed  not  another  to  de- 
prive me  of  all  sense  and  motion.  The  moment  the 
blow  was  delivered,  he  felt  it  was  no  snake  that  had 
received  it ;  and  guessing  what  he  had  done,  called 
out  to  me  in  a  loud  voice,  endeavouring  to  recall  me 
to  my  senses.  Then  touching  me  with  his  hands,  he 
felt  the  blood,  which  was  by  this  time  in  great  pro- 
fusion about  my  face,  and  ran  quickly  to  procure  a 
light.  On  his  return  he  found  me  moaning,  yet  still 


LAZARILLO  DE  TORMES. 

holding  the  key  in  my  mouth,  and  partly  visible, 
in  the  same  situation  which  caused  the  whistling  noi'e 
he  had  mistaken  for  the  snake.  Without  thinking 
much  of  me,  the  attention  of  the  slayer  of  snakes 
was  attracted  by  the  appearance  of  the  key,  and 
drawing  it  from  my  mouth,  he  soon  discovered  what 
it  was,  for,  of  course,  the  wards  were  precisely  simiiuf 
to  his  own.  He  ran  to  prove  it,  and  with  that  At 
once  found  out  the  extent  of  my  ingenuity. 

"Thank  God,"  exclaimed  this  cruel  snake-hum T, 
"  that  the  rats  and  the  snakes  which  have  so  1-  ng 
made  war  upon  me,  and  devoured  my  substance,  Are 
both  at  last  discovered." 

Of  what  passed  for  three  days  afterwards,  I  :an 
give  no  account;  but  that  which  I  have  related,  I 
heard  my  master  recount  to  those  who  came  there  to 
see  me.  At  the  end,  however,  of  the  third  day,  I 
began  to  have  some  consciousness  of  what  was  pass- 
ing around  me,  and  found  myself  extended  on  my 
straw,  my  head  bound  up,  and  covered  with  oint- 
ment and  plaisters. 

"What  is  the  meaning  of  all  this?"  I  cried,  in 
extreme  alarm.  The  heartless  priest  replied,  "  I  have 
only  been  hunting  the  rats  and  the  snakes,  which 
have  almost  ruined  me."  Seeing  the  condition  in 
which  I  was,  I  then  guessed  what  had  happened  to 
me.  At  this  time  an  old  nurse  entered,  with  some 
of  the  neighbours,  who  dressed  the  wounds  on  my 
head,  which  had  assumed  a  favourable  appearance; 
and  as  they  found  my  senses  were  restored  to  me, 
they  anticipated  but  little  danger,  and  began  to 


40  MENDOZA. 

amuse  themselves  with  my  exploits,  while  I,  unhappy 
sinner,  could  only  deplore  their  effects. 

With  all  this,  however,  they  gave  me  something  to 
eat,  for  I  was  almost  dying  with  hunger;  and  at  the 
end  of  fourteen  or  fifteen  days  I  was  able  to  rise  from 
my  bed  without  danger,  though  not  even  then  with- 
out hunger,  and  only  half  cured.  The  day  after  I 
got  up,  my  worthy  and  truly  respectable  master  took 
my  hand,  and  opening  the  door,  put  me  into  the 
street,  saying,  "  Lazaro,  from  this  day  look  out  for 
yourself,  seek  another  master,  and  fare  you  well.  No 
one  will  ever  doubt  that  you  have  served  a  blind 
man ;  but  for  me,  I  do  not  require  so  diligent  nor  so 
clever  a  servant."  Then  shaking  me  off,  as  though  I 
was  in  league  with  the  evil  one,  he  went  back  into 
his  house  and  shut  the  door. 


CHAPTER  III. 

HOW  LAZARO   BECAME    THE   SERVANT  OF  AJf  ESQUIRED 
AND    WHAT  HAPPENED    TO   HIM  IN   THAT  SERVICE. 

NOTWITHSTANDING  the  weak  state  to  which  I  was 
reduced,  I  was  obliged  to  take  heart,  and  with  the 
assistance  of  some  kind  people,  I  gradually  made 
my  way  to  the  famous  city  of  Toledo,  where,  by  the 
mercy  of  God,  I  was  shortly  cured  of  my  wounds. 

While  I  laboured  under  sickness  there  were  always 
some  well-disposed  persons  who  were  willing  to  give 
me  alms ;  but  no  sooner  was  I  recovered,  than  they 
said,  "Why  do  you  stay  idling  here?  why  don't  you 
seek  a  master  ?  "  On  which  the  reply  would  rise  to 
my  lips,  "  It  is  very  easy  to  talk,  but  it  is  hard  to 
find  one." 

In  this  manner  I  went  on  seeking  my  living  from 
door  to  door,  and  a  mighty  poor  living  it  was,  for 
Charity  has  left  us  mortals  here  to  take  a  flight  to 
heaven  long  since.  But  one  day  I  accidentally  en- 
countered a  certain  esquire  in  the  street ;  he  was  of 
a  good  appearance,  well  dressed,  and  walked  with  an 
air  of  ease  and  consequence.  As  I  cast  my  eyes  upon 
him,  he  fortunately  took  notice  of  me,  and  said,  "  Are 
you  seeking  a  master,  my  boy  ?"  I  replied  that  I 
was.  "  Then  follow  me,"  said  he ;  "  you  have  reason 


42  MENDOZA. 

to  thank  your  stars  for  this  meeting : — doubtless  you 
have  said  your  prayers  with  a  better  grace  than  usual 
this  morning."  I  followed  him,  returning  thanks  to 
Providence  for  this  singular  good  turn  of  fortune,  for, 
if  one  might  judge  from  appearances,  here  was  exactly 
the  situation  which  I  had  so  long  desired.  It  was 
early  in  the  morning  when  I  was  engaged  by  this 
kind  master,  and  I  continued  to  follow  him,  as  he 
desired,  till  we  made  the.  tour  of  a  great  part  of  the 
city.  As  we  passed  the  market,  I  hoped  that  he 
would  give  me  a  load  to  carry  home,  as  it  was  then 
about  the  hour  that  people  usually  made  their  pur- 
chases of  that  nature ;  but  he  passed  by  without 
taking  the  slightest  notice.  "  Peradventure,"  quoth 
I  to  myself,  "  these  commodities  are  not  exactly  to 
his  taste;  we  shall  be  more  fortunate  in  some  other 
quarter." 

It  was  now  eleven  o'clock,  and  my  master  went 
into  the  cathedral  to  hear  prayers,  where  I  likewise 
followed  him.  Here  we  stayed  until  the  whole 
service  was  finished  and  the  congregation  were 
departed;  and  then  my  master  left,  and  proceeded 
towards  one  of  the  back  streets  of  the  city.  Never 
was  anybody  more  delighted  than  I,  to  find  my 
master  had  not  condescended  to  trouble  himself 
about  supplying  his  table,  concluding,  of  course,  that 
he  was  a  gentleman  whose  means  enabled  him  to 
consign  to  others  such  inferior  domestic  cares,  and 
that  on  our  arrival  at  home  we  should  find  every- 
thing in  order — an  anticipation  of  great  delight  to 
me,  and,  in  fact,  by  this  time  almost  a  matter  of 


LAZARILLO  DE  TORMES.  43 

necessity.  The  clock  had  struck  one,  when  we 
arrived  at  a  house  before  which  my  master  stopped, 
and  throwing  his  cloak  open,  he  drew  from  his  sleeve 
a  key  with  which  he  opened  the  door. 

I  followed  my  master  into  the  house,  the  entrance 
of  which  was  extremely  dark  and  dismal,  so  much 
so  as  to  create  a  sensation  of  fear  in  the  mind  of  a 
stranger;  and  when  within  found  it  contained  a 
small  court-yard  and  tolerably  sized  chambers.  The 
moment  he  entered,  he  took  off  his  cloak,  and 
inquiring  whether  I  had  clean  hands,  assisted  me  to 
fold  it,  and  then,  carefully  wiping  the  dust  from  a 
seat,  laid  it  thereon.  He  next  very  composedly 
seated  himself,  and  began  to  ask  me  a  variety  of 
questions,  as  to  who  I  was,  where  I  came  from,  and 
how  I  came  to  that  city ;  to  all  which  I  gave  a  more 
particular  account  than  exactly  suited  me  at  that 
time,  for  I  thought  it  would  have  been  much  more 
to  the  purpose  had  he  desired  me  to  place  the  table 
and  serve  up  the  soup,  than  ask  me  the  questions  he 
then  did. 

With  all  this,  however,  I  contrived  to  give  him  a 
very  satisfactory  account  of  myself,  dwelling  on  my 
good  qualities,  and  concealing  those  which  were  not 
suitable  to  my  present  auditory.  But  I  began  now 
to  grow  very  uneasy,  for  two  o'clock  arrived,  and 
still  no  signs  of  dinner  appeared,  and  I  began  to 
recollect  that  ever  since  we  had  been  in  the  house  I 
had  not  heard  the  foot  of  a  human  being,  either 
above  or  below.  All  I  had  seen  were  bare  walls, 
without  even  a  chair  or  a  table — not  so  much  as  an 


44  MENDOZA . 

old  chest  like  that  I  had  such  good  occasion  to 
remember.  In  fact,  it  seemed  to  me  like  a  house 
labouring  under  the  influence  of  enchantment. 

"  Boy,  hast  thou  eaten  anything  to-day  ?  "  asked 
my  master  at  last.  "  No,  sir,"  I  replied,  "  seeing 
that  it  was  scarcely  eight  o'clock  when  I  had  the 
good  fortune  to  meet  your  honour." 

"  Early  as  it  was,"  returned  my  master,  "  I  had 
already  breakfasted,  and  it  is  never  my  custom  to 
eat  again  till  the  evening;  manage  as  you  can  till 
then;  you  will  have  the  better  appetite  for  supper." 

It  may  be  easily  supposed  that,  on  hearing  this, 
my  newly  raised  hopes  vanished  as  rapidly  as  they 
had  risen ;  it  was  not  hunger  alone  that  caused  me 
to  despond,  but  the  certainty  that  fortune  had  not 
yet  exhausted  her  full  store  of  malice  against  me. 
Already  I  saw  in  perspective  my  troubles  renewed, 
and  I  turned  to  weep  over  my  unhappy  anticipation. 
The  consideration  which  prevented  my  taking  an 
abrupt  departure  from  the  priest  arose  to  my 
remembrance — that  of  falling  from  bad  to  worse — 
and  I  beheld  it,  as  I  feared,  realised.  I  could  not 
but  weep  over  the  incidents  of  my  past  unfortunate 
career,  and  anticipate  its  rapidly  approaching  close ; 
yet  withal,  concealing  my  emotion  as  well  as  possible, 
I  said,  "  Thank  God !  sir,  I  am  not  a  boy  that 
troubles  himself  much  about  eating  and  drinking; 
and  for  this  quality  I  have  been  praised  even  to  this 
very  day  by  all  the  masters  whom  I  have  ever 
served."  "  Abstinence  is  a  great  virtue,"  returned 
my  master,  "and  for  this  I  shall  esteem  thee  still 


LAZARILLO  DE  TORMES.  45 

more;  gormandising  is  only  for  swine,  men  of  under- 
standing require  little  to  allay  their  appe.ite."  "I 
can  understand  that  sentiment  right  well,"  quoth  I 
to  myself;  "  my  masters  have  all  advised  the  same 
course;  though  the  devil  a  bit  do  they  find  the 
virtues  of  starvation  so  very  pleasant,  by  all  that  I 
have  seen." 

Seating  myself  near  the  door,  I  now  began  to  eat 
some  crusts  of  bread  which  I  had  about  me;  they 
were  part  of  some  scraps  I  had  collected  in  my  career 
of  charity.  "Come  here,  boy,"  said  my  master; 
"  what  are  you  eating?  "  I  went  to  him  and  showed 
him  the  bread.  He  selected  from  the  three  pieces 
which  I  had,  the  best  and  largest,  and  said,  "  Upon 
my  life,  but  this  seems  exceedingly  nice  bread." 
"  Yes,  sir,"  I  replied,  "  it  is  very  good."  "  It  really 
is,"  he  continued;  "where  did  you  get  it?  was  it 
made  with  clean  hands,  I  wonder?"  "That  I  can't 
answer  for,"  I  replied,  "  but  the  flavour  of  it  does 
not  come  amiss  to  me." 

"  Nor  to  me  either,  please  God ! "  said  my  poor 
devil  of  a  master;  and,  having  finished  his  scrutiny, 
he  raised  the  bread  to  his  mouth,  and  commenced  as 
fierce  an  attack  on  it  as  I  quickly  did  on  the  other. 

"  By  heavens !  but  this  bread  is  beautiful ! "  ex- 
claimed he;  and  I,  beginning  to  see  how  matters 
stood  with  him,  redoubled  my  haste  with  the 
remainder,  being  well  assured  that  if  he  finished  first, 
he  would  have  little  hesitation  in  assisting  me :  but 
luckily  we  finished  together.  He  then  carefully 
picked  up  the  crumbs  which  had  fallen,  and  entering 


46  MENDOZA. 

a  small  chamber  adjoining,  brought  out  an  old  jar 
with  a  broken  mouth.  Having  drank  therefrom  he 
handed  it  to  me,  but  to  support  my  character  of 
abstemiousness,  I  excused  myself,  saying,  "  No,  sir, 
I  thank  you ;  I  never  drink  wine." 

"  The  contents  of  the  jar  will  not  hurt  you,"  he 
said  ;  "  it  is  only  water !  "  I  took  the  jar,  but  a  very 
small  draught  satisfied  me,  for  thirst  was  one  of  the 
few  things  from  which  I  suffered  no  inconvenience. 

Thus  we  remained  till  night,  I  anticipating  my 
supper,  and  my  master  asking  me  many  questions, 
to  all  of  which  I  answered  in  the  best  manner  I  was 
able.  Then  he  took  me  into  the  chamber  whence 
he  had  brought  the  jar  of  water,  and  said,  "  Stay 
here,  my  boy,  and  see  how  to  make  this  bed,  as 
from  henceforth  you  will  have  this  duty."  We 
then  placed  ourselves  on  each  side  of  this  bed,  if  such 
it  can  be  called,  to  make  it;  though  little  enough 
there  was  to  make.  On  some  benches  was  extended 
a  sort  of  platform  of  reeds,  on  which  were  placed 
the  clothes,  which,  from  want  of  washing,  were  not 
the  whitest  in  the  world.  The  deuce  of  anything 
was  there  in  the  shape  of  feather-bed  or  mattress, 
but  the  canes  showed  like  the  ribs  of  a  lean  hog 
through  an  old  covering  which  served  to  lie  upon, 
and  the  colour  of  which  one  could  not  exactly 
praise. 

It  was  night  when  the  bed  was  made,  and  my 
master  said,  "  Lazaro,  it  is  rather  late  now,  and  the 
market  is  distant;  likewise  the  city  abounds  with 
rogues;  we  had  better  therefore  pass  the  night  as  we 


LAZARILLO  DE  TORMBS.  47 

can,  and  to-morrow  morninsr  we  will  fare  better. 
Being  a  single  man,  you  see,  I  don't  care  much  for 
these  things,  but  we  will  arrange  better  in  future." 

"  Sir,  as  to  myself,"  I  replied,  "  I  beg  you  will 
on  no  account  distress  yourself.  I  can  pass  a  night 
without  food  with  no  inconvenience,  or  even  more 
indeed,  if  it  were  necessary."  "  Your  health  will  be 
all  the  better  for  it,"  he  said,  "  for  take  my  word  for 
it,  as  I  said  to-day,  nothing  in  the  world  will  ensure 
length  of  life  so  much  as  eating  little." 

"  If  life  is  to  be  purchased  on  such  terms,"  said  I 
to  myself,  "  I  shall  never  die,  for  hitherto  I  have 
been  obliged  to  keep  this  rule,  whether  I  will  or  no; 
and,  God  help  me,  I  fear  I  shall  keep  it  all  my  long 
life." 

My  master  then  went  to  bed,  putting  his  clothes 
under  his  head  instead  of  a  pillow,  and  ordered  me 
to  seek  my  rest  at  his  feet ;  which  I  accordingly  did, 
though  the  situation  precluded  all  hope  of  sleep. 
The  canes  of  which  the  bedstead  was  composed, 
and  my  bones,  which  were  equally  prominent,  were, 
throughout  the  night,  engaged  in  a  continual  and 
most  unpleasant  intimacy;  for  considering  my  ill- 
ness and  the  privations  which  I  had  endured,  to 
say  nothing  of  my  present  starving  condition,  I  do 
not  believe  I  had  a  single  pound  of  flesh  on  my 
whole  body.  Throughout  that  day  I  had  eaten 
nothing  but  a  crust  of  bread,  and  was  actually  mad 
with  hunger,  which  is  in  itself  a  bitter  enemy  to 
repose.  A  thousand  times  did  I  curse  myself  and 
my  unhappy  fortunes — the  Lord  forgive  my  iin- 


48 

piety ;  and  what  was  a  sore  addition  to  my  misery, 
I  dared  not  to  move,  nor  vent  my  grief  in  audible 
expressions,  for  fear  of  waking  my  master.  Many 
times  during  this  night  did  I  pray  to  God  to  finish 
my  existence ! 

As  the  morning  appeared,  we  arose,  and  I  set  about 
cleaning  my  master's  clothes,  and  putting  them  in 
order;  and  helped  him  to  dress,  very  much  to  his 
satisfaction.  As  he  placed  his  sword  in  his  belt,  he 
said,  "  Do  you  know  the  value  of  this  weapon,  my 
boy?  The  gold  was  never  coined  that  should  buy 
this  treasure  of  me.  Of  all  the  blades  Antonio  ever 
forged,  he  never  yet  made  its  fellow."  And  then 
drawing  it  from  the  scabbard  and  trying  the  edge 
with  his  fingers,  he  added,  "  With  this  blade  I  would 
engage  to  sever  a  bale  of  wool."  "  And  I  would  do 
more  than  that  with  my  teeth,"  said  I  to  myself;  "  for 
though  they  are  not  made  of  steel,  I  would  engage 
to  sever  a  four-pound  loaf,  and  devour  it  afterwards." 

He  then  sheathed  his  sword  and  girded  it  round 
him,  and  with  an  easy,  gentlemanlike  carriage,  bear- 
ing himself  erect,  and  throwing  the  corner  of  his 
cloak  over  his  shoulder,  or  over  his  arm,  placing  his 
right  hand  on  his  side,  he  sallied  forth,  saying, 
"  Lazaro,  see  to  the  house  while  I  go  to  hear  mass, 
and  make  the  bed  during  my  absence ;  the  vessel  for 
water  wants  filling,  which  you  can  do  at  the  river 
which  runs  close  by ;  though  take  care  to  lock  the 
door  when  you  go,  lest  we  should  be  robbed,  and 
put  the  key  on  this  hinge,  in  case  I  return  before 
you,  that  I  may  let  myself  in." 


LAZARILLO  t>E  TORMES.  49 

He  then  walked  up  the  street  with  such  an  air  of 
gentility,  that  a  stranger  would  have  taken  him  for  a 
near  relation  of  the  Count  of  Arcos,  or  at  least  for 
his  valet  de  chambre. 

"  Blessed  be  the  Lord !  "  said  I,  "  who,  if  He  inflicts 
misfortunes,  gives  us  the  means  of  bearing  them. 
Now  who,  on  meeting  my  master,  would  dream  but 
that  he  had  supped  well  and  slept  well ;  and,  although 
early  in  the  morning,  but  that  he  had  also  break- 
fasted well  ?  There  are  many  secrets,  my  good 
master,  that  you  know,  and  that  all  the  world  is 
ignorant  of.  Who  would  not  be  deceived  by  that 
smiling  face  and  that  fine  cloak  ?  and  who  would 
believe  that  such  a  fine  gentleman  had  passed  the 
whole  of  yesterday  without  any  other  food  than  a 
morsel  of  bread,  that  his  boy  had  carried  in  his 
breast  for  a  day  and  a  night  ?  To-day  washing  his 
hands  and  face,  and,  for  want  of  a  towel,  obliged  to 
dry  them  with  the  lining  of  his  garments — no  one 
would  ever  suspect  such  things  from  the  appearance 
before  them.  Alas!  how  many  are  there  in  this 
world  who  voluntarily  suffer  more  for  their  false  idea 
of  honour,  than  they  would  undergo  for  their  hopes 
of  an  hereafter ! " 

Thus  I  moralised  at  the  door  of  our  house,  while 
my  master  paced  slowly  up  the  street;  and  then, 
returning  within,  I  lost  no  time  in  making  the  tour 
of  the  house,  which  I  did,  though  without  making 
any  fresh  discovery  whatever,  or  finding  anything  of 
a  more  consolatory  nature  than  my  own  gloomy 
thoughts. 

VOL.  I.  D 


50  MEN 'DO 2 'A. 

I  quickly  made  our  bed,  such  as  it  was,  and  taking 
the  water-jar,  went  with  it  to  the  river.  There  I  saw 
my  gay  master  in  one  of  the  gardens  by  the  river 
side,  in  close  conversation  with  two  ladies,  closely 
veiled,  for  there  were  many  who  were  in  the  habit 
of  resorting  thus  early  in  the  morning  to  enjoy  the 
fresh  air,  and  to  take  breakfast  with  some  of  the 
gentlemen  of  the  city,  who  likewise  frequented  the 
spot.  There  he  stood  between  them,  saying  softer 
things  than  Ovid  ever  did ;  while  they,  seeing  him 
apparently  so  enamoured,  made  no  scruple  of  hinting 
their  wish  to  breakfast.  Unfortunately  his  purse  was 
as  empty  as  his  heart  was  full,  therefore  this  attack 
on  his  weaker  position  threw  him  somewhat  suddenly 
into  disorder,  which  became  evident  from  his  con- 
fusion of  language  and  the  lame  excuses  of  which  he 
was  obliged  to  avail  himself.  The  ladies  were  too 
well  experienced  not  to  perceive,  and  that  quickly, 
how  matters  stood ;  it  was  not  long,  therefore,  before 
they  exchanged  him  for  a  more  entertaining  gallant. 

I  was  all  this  time  slily  munching  some  cabbage- 
stalks,  for  want  of  a  better  breakfast,  which  I  de- 
spatched with  considerable  alacrity,  and  then  returned 
home,  without  being  seen  by  my  master,  to  await  his 
orders  respecting  breakfast  on  his  return. 

I  began  to  think  seriously  what  I  should  do,  still 
hoping,  however,  that  as  the  day  advanced  my  master 
might  return  with  the  means  to  provide  at  least  for 
our  dinner,  but  in  vain.  Two  o'clock  came,  but  no 
master;  and,  as  my  hunger  now  became  insupport- 
able, without  further  consideration  I  locked  the  door, 


LAZARILLO  DE  TORMES.  51 

and,  placing  the  key  where  I  was  told,  sallied  out  in 
search  of  food.  With  a  humble  subdued  voice,  my 
hands  crossed  upon  my  breast,  and  the  name  of  the 
Lord  upon  my  tongue,  I  went  from  house  to  house 
begging  bread.  The  practice  of  this  art,  I  may  say, 
I  imbibed  with  my  mother's  milk ;  or  rather  that, 
having  studied  it  under  the  greatest  master  in  all 
Spain,  it  is  no  wonder  that  I  was  so  great  an  adept 
in  all  its  various  branches. 

Suffice  it  to  say,  that  although  in  this  city  there  is 
no  more  charity  than  would  save  a  saint  from  star- 
vation, yet  such  was  my  superiority  in  talent,  that 
before  four  o'clock  I  had  stowed  away  nearly  four 
pounds  of  bread  in  my  empty  stomach,  and  two 
pounds  more  in  my  sleeves  and  in  the  inside  of  my 
jacket.  Passing  then  by  the  tripe  market,  I  begged 
of  one  of  the  women  that  keep  the  stalls,  who  o;ave 
me  a  good-sized  piece  of  cow-heel,  with  some  other 
pieces  of  boiled  tripe.  When  I  got  home,  I  found  my 
good  gentleman  already  arrived,  and  having  folded 
and  brushed  his  cloak,  he  was  walking  about  the 
courtyard.  As  I  entered  he  came  up  to  me,  as  I 
thought,  to  chide  me  for  my  absence,  but,  thank  God, 
it  was  far  otherwise.  He  inquired  where  I  had  been, 
to  which  I  replied,  "  Sir,  I  remained  at  home  till  two 
o'clock ;  but  when  I  found  that  your  honour  did  not 
return,  I  went  out,  and  recommended  myself  so  well 
to  the  notice  of  the  good  people  of  this  city,  that  they 
have  given  me  what  you  see."  I  then  showed  him  the 
bread  and  the  tripe  which  I  had  collected.  At  the 
sight  of  these  delicacies  his  countenance  brightened 


52  MENDOZA. 

up.  "Ah  ! "  said  he,  "  I  waited  dinner  for  you  some 
time;  but  as  it  grew  late  I  finished.  You  'have 
nevertheless  acted  very  properly  in  this  matter;  for 
it  is  much  better  to  ask,  for  the  love  of  God,  than  to 
steal.  I  only  charge  you  on  no  account  to  say  you 
live  with  me,  as  such  proceedings  would  not  exactly 
redound  to  my  honour,  although  I  hardly  think  there 
is  any  danger,  seeing  that  I  am  known  so  little  in 
this  city."  "  Do  not  alarm  yourselfj  sir,  on  that  head," 
said  I,  "  for  people  thought  as  little  of  asking  who  was 
my  master  as  I  of  telling  them."  "  Eat  away,  then, 
you  young  rogue,"  said  he,  "  and  with  the  blessing  of 
God  we  shall  not  long  have  need  of  ?nch  assistance, 
though  T  must  say  since  I  have  been  in  this  house 
good  fortune  has  never  visited  me.  There  are  houses, 
from  some  reason  or  other,  so  unlucky  that  every 
one  who  occupies  them  becomes  infected  with  their 
ill-fortune,  and  this  is  without  doubt  one  of  them ; 
but  I  promise  you  that  directly  the  month  is  up  I 
will  leave,  even  if  they  should  offer  it  to  me  for 
nothing."  I  seated  myself  on  the  end  of  the  bench, 
and  commenced  my  supper  with  the  tripe  and  bread. 
My  poor  unhappy  master  all  the  time  eyed  me 
askance,  and  never  once  took  his  eyes  from  my  skirts, 
which  at  that  time  served  me  instead  of  a  dinner- 
service.  Providence  had  that  day  so  favoured  me, 
that  I  resolved  my  master  should  partake  of  my 
abundance,  for  I  could  well  understand  his  feelings, 
having  experienced  them  of  old,  and  to  that  very  day, 
indeed,  I  was  no  stranger  to  them.  I  began  to  think 
whether  it  would  exactly  become  me  to  invite  him  to 


LAZARILLO  DE  TORMES. 


53 


my  repast,  but  as  he  had  unfortunately  said  he  had 
dined,  I  feared  lest  he  might  take  it  amiss.  How- 
ever, I  very  much  wished  that  the  poor  sinner  might 
have  the  benefit  of  my  labour,  and  break  his  fast 
as  he  had  done  the  day  before,  particularly  as  the 
food  was  better  and  my  hunger  less.  My  good 
wishes  towards  him  were  speedily  gratified,  as  they 
happened  to  jump  with  his  own  humour,  for 
directly  I  commenced  my  meal  he  began  walking 
up  and  down  the  room,  and  approaching  me  rather 
closely — 

"  Lazaro,"  said  he,  "  I  really  cannot  help  remark- 
ing the  extreme  grace  with  which  you  make  your 
meal.  I  don't  think  I  ever  saw  any  one  eat  with 
more  natural  elegance ;  certain  it  is,  that  an  observer 
might  benefit  by  your  example/' 

"Doubtless,  my  good  sir,"  thought  I,  "it  can 
only  be  to  your  extreme  amiability  that  I  am  in- 
debted for  this  compliment."  Then,  in  order  to 
give  him  the  opportunity  which  I  knew  he  longed 
for,  I  said,  "  Good  materials,  sir,  require  good  work- 
men. This  bread  is  most  delicious,  and  this  cow- 
heel  is  so  well  cooked  and  seasoned  that  the  smell 
alone  is  sufficient  to  tempt  any  one." 

"  Cow-heel,  is  it? "  said  he. 

"  It  is,  sir,"  I  replied. 

"  Ah ! "  said  he,  "  cow's  heel  is  one  of  the  most 
delicate  morsels  in  the  world,  there  is  nothing  I  am 
so  fond  of." 

"  Then  taste  it,  sir,"  said  I,  "  and  try  whether  this 
is  as  good  as  you  have  eaten."  He  seated  himself 


54  MENDOZA. 

on  the  bench  beside  me,  and  laying  hands  on  the 
cow-heel,  with  three  or  four  pieces  of  the  whitest 
bread,  commenced  in  such  good  earnest  that  one 
might  easily  see  his  rations  were  not  disagreeable  to 
him — grinding  every  bone  as  ravenously  as  a  grey- 
hound. "With  a  nice  sauce  of  garlic,"  said  he, 
"  this  would  be  capital  eating." 

"  You  eat  it  with  a  better  sauce  than  that,  my 
good  sir,"  thought  I. 

"  By  heavens,"  said  he,  "  anybody  would  think, 
to  see  me  eat,  that  I  had  not  touched  a  morsel 
to-day." 

"  I  wish  I  was  as  sure  of  good  luck  as  I'm  sure  of 
that,"  said  I  to  myself.  He  asked  me  for  the  water- 
jug,  and  I  gave  it  to  him,  which,  by  the  way,  was  a 
sure  proof  he  had  eaten  nothing,  for  it  was  as  full  as 
when  I  brought  it  from  the  river.  After  drinking 
we  went  to  bed  in  the  same  manner  as  on  the  night 
before,  though  it  must  be  confessed  in  a  much  more 
contented  mood. 

Not  to  dwell  too  much  on  this  part  of  my  story, 
I  shall  only  say  that  in  this  manner  we  passed  eight 
or  ten  days,  my  worthy  master  taking  the  air  every 
day,  in  the  most  frequented  parts,  with  the  most 
perfect  ease  of  a  man  of  fashion,  and  returning  home 
to  feast  on  the  contributions  of  the  charitable,  levied 
by  poor  Lazaro. 

Many  times  did  the  reflection  suggest  itself,  that, 
when  with  former  masters  I  prayed  so  heartily  to  be 
released  from  such  miserable  service,  my  desire  was 
certainly  gratified,  though  with  this  difference,  that 


LAZARILLO  DE  TORMES.  55 

not  only  did  my  present  one  decline  feeding  me,  but 
expected  that  I  should  maintain  him. 

With  all  this,  however,  I  liked  him  very  much, 
seeing  he  had  not  the  ability  to  do  more — in  fact,  I 
was  much  more  sorry  for  his  unfortunate  condition 
than  angry  at  the  situation  in  which  his  deficiencies 
placed  me ;  and  many  times  I  have  been  reduced  to 
short  commons  myself,  that  I  might  bring  home  a 
certain  share  for  my  unlucky  master.  But  he  was 
poor,  and  nobody  can  ffive  what  he  has  not  got — an 
excuse  which  I  cannot  make  for  the  old  scoundrels  I 
served  before — though,  as  God  is  my  witness,  to  this 
very  day  I  never  see  a  gentleman,  like  my  master, 
strutting  along  as  though  the  street  was  hardly  wide 
enough  for  him,  without  marking  the  singular  way 
in  which  Fortune  apportions  her  favours.  I  pitied 
him  from  my  heart,  to  think,  that  with  all  his 
apparent  greatness  he  might  at  that  moment  suffer 
privations  equally  hard  to  endure.  But  with  all  his 
poverty  I  found  greater  satisfaction  in  serving  him 
than  either  of  the  others,  for  the  reasons  I  have 
stated.  All  that  I  blamed  him  for  was  the  extrava- 
gance of  his  pride,  which,  I  thought,  mi<rht  have 
been  somewhat  abated  towards  one  who,  like  myself, 
knew  his  circumstances  so  intimately.  It  seems  to 
me,  however,  that  the  poorest  gentlefolk  are  always 
the  most  proud ;  but  there  is  consolation  in  the 
thought  that  death  knows  no  distinction,  but  at 
length  most  generally  places  the  commoner  in  higher 
ground  than  it  does  the  peer.  I  lived  for  some  time 
in  the  manner  I  have  related,  when  it  pleased  my 


56  MENDOZA. 

miserable  fortune,  which  seemed  never  tired  with 
persecuting  me,  to  envy  me  even  my  present  pre- 
carious and  unhappy  condition. 

It  appeared  that  the  season  in  that  country  had 
been  unfavourable  to  corn,  therefore  it  was  ordained 
by  the  magistracy  that  all  strangers  who  subsisted 
by  alms  should  quit  the  city,  or  risk  the  punishment 
of  the  whip.  This  law  was.  enforced  so  rigidly  that, 
only  four  days  after  its  promulgation,  I  beheld  a 
procession  of  miserable  wretches  who  were  suffering 
the  penalty  through  the  streets  of  the  city ;  a  sight 
which  so  alarmed  me  that  I  did  not  dare  for  the 
future  to  avail  myself  of  my  accustomed  means  of 
subsistence.  It  can  hardly  be  possible  to  imagine 
the  extreme  necessity  to  which  our  house  was 
reduced,  or  the  mournful  silence  of  those  who  were 
expiring  within;  for  two  or  three  days  we  neither 
spoke  a  word  nor  had  we  a  mouthful  to  eat.  With 
regard  to  myself,  there  were  some  young  women, 
who  earned  their  living  by  cotton-spinning  and 
making  caps,  and  with  whom,  being  near  neighbours 
of  ours,  I  had  made  some  slight  acquaintanceship 
— out  of  their  pittance  these  poor  girls  gave  me  a 
morsel,  which  just  served  to  keep  life  within  me. 

I  did  not,  however,  feel  my  own  situation  so 
keenly  as  I  did  that  of  my  poor  master,  who,  dur- 
ing the  space  of  eight  days,  to  the  best  of  my  know- 
ledge, never  touched  a  mouthful ;  at  least,  I  can  say, 
the  deuce  a  morsel  ever  entered  our  door.  Whether 
he  ever  got  anything  to  eat  when  he  went  out  I  can- 
not determine  j  but  I  know  well  that  he  sallied  out 


LAZARILLO  DE  TORMES. 


57 


every  day  with  a  waist  as  fine  as  a  greyhound  of  the 
best  breed ;  and  the  better,  as  he  thought,  to  evade 
suspicion,  he  would  take  a  straw  from  the  mattress, 
which  could  even  ill  spare  the  loss,  and  go  swagger- 
ing out  of  the  house,  sticking  it  in  his  mouth  for  a 
toothpick  1  He  continued  to  attribute  all  his  ill-for- 
tune to  the  unlucky  house  in  which  we  were  lodged. 
"  The  evils  we  have  to  bear,"  he  would  say,  "  are  all 
owing  to  this  unfortunate  dwelling — as  you  see,  it  is 
indeed  sad,  dark,  and  dismal :  nevertheless,  here  we 
are,  and,  I  fear,  must  continue  awhile  to  suffer;  I 
only  wish  the  month  was  past,  that  we  might  well 
be  quit  of  it." 

It  happened  one  day,  suffering,  as  I  have  described, 
this  afflicting  persecution  of  hunger,  that,  by  some 
extraordinary  chance,  I  know  not  what,  nor  did  I 
think  it  dutiful  to  inquire,  there  fell  into  my  poor 
master's  poverty-stricken  possession  the  large  sum  of 
one  rial,  with  which  he  came  home  as  consequentially 
as  though  he  had  brought  the  treasure  of  Venice, 
saying  to  me,  with  an  air  of  extreme  satisfaction  and 
contentment,  "  Here,  Lazaro,  my  boy,  take  this — 
Providence  is  at  last  beginning  to  smile  on  us — go 
to  the  market  and  purchase  bread,  meat,  and  wine; 
we  will  no  longer  take  things  as  we  have  done.  I 
have  other  good  news  likewise.  I  have  taken  an- 
other lodging,  so  that  there  will  be  no  occasion  to 
remain  in  this  wretched  place  longer  than  the  end  of 
the  month.  Curse  the  place  and  he  who  laid  the 
first  brick ;  by  the  Lord,  since  I've  been  here  not  a 
drop  of  wine  have  I  drunk,  nor  have  I  tasted  a  morsel 


58  MENDOZA. 

of  meat,  neither  have  I  enjoyed  the  smallest  comfort 
whatsoever;  but  everything  has  been,  as  you  see, 
miserable  and  dismal  to  the  last  degree.  However, 
go,  and  quickly,  for  to-day  we  will  feast  like  lords." 

I  took  my  rial  and  jar,  and  without  another  word 
set  out  on  my  errand  with  the  utmost  speed,  making 
towards  the  market-place  in  the  most  joyous  and 
light-hearted  mood  imaginable.  But  alas !  what 
enjoyment  could  I  expect,  when  my  adverse  fortune 
so  preponderated  that  the  slightest  gleam  of  sun- 
shine in  my  career  was  sure  to  be  overtaken  by  a 
storm?  I  was  making  my  way,  as  I  said,  in  ex- 
tremely good  spirits,  revolving  in  my  mind  in  what 
manner  I  should  lay  out  my  money  to  the  best 
advantage,  and  returning  heartfelt  thanks  to  Provi- 
dence for  favouring  my  master  with  this  unexpected 
stroke  of  fortune,  when  I  saw  a  great  crowd  at  the 
other  end  of  the  street,  among  whom  were  many 
priests;  and  I  soon  found  to  my  horror  that  they 
were  accompanying  a  corpse.  I  stood  up  against 
the  wall  to  give  them  room,  and  as  the  body  passed 
I  beheld  one,  who,  as  I  supposed,  from  the  mourning 
she  wore,  was  the  widow  of  the  deceased,  surrounded 
by  friends.  She  was  weeping  bitterly,  and  uttering 
in  a  loud  voice  the  most  piteous  exclamations. 
"  Alas ! "  she  cried,  "  my  dear  husband  and  lord ! 
whither  are  they  taking  you  ?  To  that  miserable  and 
unhappy  dwelling;  to  that  dark  and  dismal  habita- 
tion ;  to  the  house  where  there  is  neither  eating  nor 
drinking!"  Good  heavens!  never  shall  I  forget  the 
moment  when  I  heard  those  words ;  it  seemed  in  mv 


LAZARILLO  DE  TORMES.  59 

fright  as  though  heaven  and  earth  were  coming  to- 
gether. "  Miserable  and  unhappy  wretch  that  I  am," 
I  exclaimed  in  an  agony  of  mind,  "  it  is  to  our  house 
then  that  they  are  bearing  this  body ! " 

I  rushed  from  the  place  where  I  stood,  through 
the  crowd,  forgetting  in  my  fright  the  object  of  my 
errand,  and  made  with  all  speed  towards  home.  The 
instant  I  arrived,  I  closed  the  door,  barred  and  bolted 
it,  and  cried  out  to  my  master  with  the  utmost 
earnestness  of  manner  to  help  me  to  defend  the 
entrance.  He,  greatly  alarmed,  and  with  the  im- 
pression that  it  was  something  else,  called  to  me, 
"What  is  the  matter,  boy?  why  do  you  slam  the 
door  with  such  fury  ?  " 

"O  master,"  said  I,  "come  here  and  assist  me, 
for  they  are  bringing  a  dead  body  here !  I  met  them 
in  the  street  above,  and  I  heard  the  widow  of  the 
dead  man  crying  out,  'Alas!  husband  and  master, 
whither  do  they  take  you  ?  To  the  dark  and  dismal 
house;  to  the  house  of  misery  and  misfortune;  to 
the  house  where  they  neither  eat  nor  drink.'  To 
what  other  house,  then,  can  they  be  bringing  him 
than  this  ?  "  Directly  my  master  heard  these  words, 
albeit  in  no  merry  humour,  he  burst  out  into  such  a 
fit  of  laughing  that  it  was  some  time  before  he  could 
utter  a  word. 

During  this  time  I  was  holding  fast  the  door, 
placing  my  shoulder  against  it  for  better  security. 
The  crowd  passed  with  the  body,  though  still  I 
could  not  persuade  myself  but  that  they  intended 
to  bring  it  in.  When  my  master  was  more  satiated 


6o  MENDOZA. 

with  mirth  than  with  food,  he  said  to  me,  in  a  good- 
tempered  manner,  "It  is  very  just,  Lazaro;  accord- 
ing to  what  the  widow  said,  you  were  right  in  think- 
ing as  you  did ;  but  as  they  have  thought  better  of  it 
and  passed  on,  open  the  door  and  go  on  your  errand." 
"  Stop  a  little  longer,  sir,"  said  I,  "  let  them  pass  the 
end  of  the  street,  that  we  may  be  sure ;  "  but  he  would 
not  wait,  and  coming  to  the  street  door,  he  opened 
it  and  forced  me  away,  for  I  hardly  knew  what  I  did 
with  fright,  and  so  he  despatched  me  again  to  the 
market. 

We  dined  well  that  day,  though  my  appetite  was 
but  indifferent ;  and  it  was  some  time  before  I  re- 
covered from  the  effect  of  that  misadventure,  though 
it  was  an  excellent  source  of  mirth  to  my  master 
whenever  it  was  brought  to  his  recollection. 

In  this  manner  I  lived  some  little  time  with  my 
third  and  poorest  master  the  esquire,  having  great 
curiosity  to  know  what  could  possibly  have  induced 
him  to  come  to  that  part  of  the  world,  for  I  knew 
he  was  a  stranger  on  the  first  day  I  lived  with  him, 
from  the  fact  of  his  not  knowing  a  single  soul  in  the 
city.  At  last  my  wish  was  gratified ;  for  one  day, 
when  we  had  feasted  pretty  well,  and  were  conse- 
quently in  good  humour,  he  told  me  a  little  of  his 
history.  He  was  a  native  of  Old  Castile,  and  had 
quitted  his  country  because  he  had  refused  to  salute 
a  neighbouring  gentleman  of  consequence  by  taking 
off  his  hat  first,  which,  according;  to  punctilio,  was 
construed  into  an  insulting  mark  of  disrespect.  My 
honourable  master  wished  to  convince  me  that, 


LAZARILLO  DE  TORMES.  61 

being  a  gentleman,  the  other,  though  superior,  had 
an  equal  right  to  doff  his  bonnet  to  him;  "for," 
said  he,  "  though  I  am,  as  you  see,  but  an  esquire, 
I  vow  to  God,  if  the  count  himself  were  to  meet  me 
in  the  street,  and  did  not  take  off  his  hat  to  me,  ay, 
and  entirely  off,  the  next  time  we  met  I  would  turn 
into  some  shop,  pretending  business,  rather  than  pay 
him  the  least  mark  of  respect.  And  though  you  see 
me  here  but  poorly  off,  yet  in  my  own  country  I 
have  an  estate  in  houses  in  good  condition  and  well 
rented,  only  sixteen  leagues  from  the  place  where  I 
was  born,  worth  at  least  two  hundred  thousand 
maravedis;  so  you  see  that  they  must  be  of  good 
size  and  in  good  repair.  I  have  likewise  a  dovecot, 
which  if  it  were  taken  care  of,  which  it  is  not,  would 
furnish  upwards  of  two  hundred  young  birds  annu- 
ally ;  and  many  other  things  I  possess,  which  I  have 
relinquished  solely  because  I  would  not  have  the 
slightest  imputation  cast  upon  my  honour,  by  yield- 
ing precedence  to  one  who  was  in  fact  no  better  than 
myself;  and  I  came  to  this  city  hoping  to  obtain 
some  honourable  employment,  though  I  have  not 
succeeded  so  well  as  I  could  have  wished." 

In  this  manner  my  master  was  going  on  with  his 
narrative,  giving  me  an  account  of  the  honourable 
proceedings  by  which  he  had  suffered,  when  he  was 
interrupted  by  the  appearance  of  an  old  man  and 
woman ;  the  former  came  to  demand  the  rent  of  the 
house,  and  the  latter  that  of  the  bed.  They  brought 
the  account,  and  claimed  for  two  months  more  than 
he  could  raise  in  a  year;  I  think  it  was  about  twelve 


62  MENDOZA. 

or  thirteen  rials.  He  answered  them  very  cour- 
teously, that  he  was  then  going  out  to  change  a  piece 
of  gold  and  should  return  in  the  evening.  But  he 
made  his  exit  this  time  for  good ;  and  when  the 
good  people  came  for  their  money,  I  was  obliged  to 
tell  them  that  he  had  not  yet  returned.  The  night 
came,  but  without  my  master,  and,  being  fearful  of 
remaining  in  the  house  by  myself,  I  went  to  our 
neighbours,  to  whom  I  related  the  circumstance,  and 
they  allowed  me  to  remain  with  them. 

Early  in  the  morning  the  creditors  returned  and 
inquired  of  the  neighbours.  The  woman  replied 
that  his  boy  was  there,  and  the  key  of  the  door  ready 
for  them.  They  then  asked  me  about  my  master, 
and  I  told  them  that  I  knew  not  where  he  was,  and 
that  I  had  not  seen  him  since  he  went  out  to  change 
the  piece  of  gold ;  but  that  I  thought  it  was  most 
likely  he  was  gone  off  with  the  change. 

On  hearing  this  news  they  sent  for  a  lawyer  and 
a  constable,  and  called  on  me  and  others  to  witness 
their  taking  possession  of  my  master's  effects  in  pay- 
ment of  their  demands.  They  went  all  over  the 
house,  and  found  just  as  much  furniture  as  I  have 
recounted  before,  when  they  demanded  of  me, 
"What  has  become  of  your  master's  property? 
where  are  his  trunks?  and  where  is  his  household 
furniture ?  "  "I  am  sure  I  don't  know,"  I  replied. 
"  Doubtless,"  said  they,  "  the  property  has  been 
removed  during  the  night.  Senor  Alguazil,  take 
that  boy  into  custody ;  he  knows  whither  it  has  been 
taken."  On  this  up  came  the  Alguazil,  and,  seizing 


LAZARILLO  DE  TORMES.  63 

me  by  the  collar,  said,  "  Boy,  thou  art  my  prisoner, 
if  thou  reveal  not  where  thy  master  hath  hid  his 
effects."  I,  as  if  quite  new  to  this  sort  of  thing, 
expressed  the  utmost  surprise  and  terror,  and  pro- 
mised to  state  everything  I  knew,  which  seemed  a 
little  to  disarm  his  anger.  "  That  is  right,"  exclaimed 
all,  "  tell  all  you  know,  and  fear  nothing."  The 
man  of  law  seated  himself  at  a  desk,  and  desired  me 
to  begin.  "  Gentlemen,"  I  continued,  "  my  master 
is  in  possession  of  a  good  stock  of  houses  and  an  old 
dovecot."  "  So  far  well,"  was  the  reply ;  "  however 
little  worth,  it  will  meet  the  debt  he  owes  us.  In 
what  part  of  the  city  do  they  lie  ?  "  "  On  his  own 
estate,  to  be  sure,"  was  my  answer.  "  That  is  all 
the  better,"  they  exclaimed ;  "  and  where  is  his 
estate  ? "  "  In  Old  Castile,"  I  replied,  "  as  he  told 
me."  Both  Alguazil  and  notary  laughed  out  at  hear- 
ing this,  exclaiming,  "  Quite  enough — quite  enough 
to  cover  your  claim,  though  it  were  even  greater." 
The  neighbours  who  had  gathered  round  us  now 
said,  "  Gentlemen,  this  here  is  a  very  honest  boy ; 
he  has  not  been  long  in  the  'squire's  service,  and 
knows  no  more  of  him  than  does  your  worship ;  the 
poor  little  sinner  came  knocking  at  our  doors,  and 
for  charity's  sake  we  gave  him  something  to  eat, 
after  which  he  has  gone  to  sleep  at  his  master's." 

Seeing  that  I  was  innocent  they  let  me  go  free ; 
but  the  notary  and  the  Alguazil  now  came  on  the 
owners  for  the  taxes,  which  gave  rise  to  no  very 
friendly  discussion  and  a  most  hideous  din ;  the  man 
and  woman  maintained  very  stoutly  that  they  had 


64  MENDOZA. 

neither  the  will  nor  the  means  to  pay  them.  The 
others  declared  they  had  other  business  in  view  of 
more  importance ;  but  I  left  them  without  stopping 
to  see  the  issue  of  the  affair,  though  I  believe  the 
unfortunate  owner  had  to  pay  all ;  and  he  well  de- 
served to  do  it,  for  when  he  ought  to  have  taken  his 
ease  and  pleasure,  after  a  life  of  labour,  he  still  went 
on  hiring  out  houses  to  increase  his  gains. 

It  was  in  this  way  that  my  third  and  poorest 
master  took  leave  of  me,  by  which  it  seems  I  put  the 
seal  to  my  bad  fortune,  which,  while  exercising  its 
utmost  rigour  against  me,  had  this  singularity  in  it 
that,  though  most  domestics  are  known  to  run  away 
from  their  masters,  it  was  not  thus  in  my  case,  inas- 
much as  my  master  had  fairly  run  away  from  me. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

HOW  LAZARO    SERVED   A    FRIAR    OP  LA    MERCED%   AND 
WHAT   HAPPENED    TO   HIM. 

I  HAD  now  to  seek  a  fourth  master ;  and  this  turned 
out  to  be  a  holy  friar,  to  whom  I  was  conducted  by 
the  ladies  before  alluded  to,  and  who  were  related  to 
him.  He  was  a  great  enemy  to  psalm-singing,  and 
of  the  usual  convent  fare;  fond  of  roaming  out,  and 
eager  indeed  in  the  pursuit  of  every  kind  of  secular 
business  and  amusement.  In  fact,  he  wore  out  more 
shoes  than  all  the  rest  of  the  convent  put  together. 
It  was  he  who  gave  me  the  first  pair  of  shoes  I  ever 
had  given  me  in  my  life;  and  they  did  not  last  me 
much  above  a  week,  so  constantly  did  he  keep  me  on 
the  trot.  In  short,  I  could  not  endure  it;  and  for 
this  and  other  reasons,  not  worth  stating,  I  took  my 
leave  of  him  without  asking  leave. 


VOL.  I. 


CHAPTER    V. 

HOW  LAZARO   SERVED   A    BULERO,    AND    WHAT  s. 
TOOK  PLACE. 

THE  fifth  master  that  fortune  threw  in  my  way  was 
a  Bulero,  or  a  dealer  in  papal  indulgences — one  of  the 
most  impudent  and  barefaced,  yet  cleverest  rogues, 
that  I  have  ever  seen  or  ever  shall  see.  He  practised 
all  manner  of  deceit,  and  resorted  to  the  most  subtle 
inventions  to  gain  his  end.  On  his  arrival  at  any 
place  to  present  his  credentials  and  open  his  traffic, 
the  first  thing  he  did  was  to  send  small  presents  of 
no  great  value  to  the  clergy,  by  which  means  he 
would  gain  a  civil  reception,  and  perhaps  assistance 
in  his  negotiations.  He  made  himself  acquainted 
with  the  character  of  these  persons;  when  to  some 
he  would  say  that  he  never  spoke  in  Latin,  but 
always  preferred  a  chaste  and  elegant  diction  in  his 
native  tongue.  To  others  again  he  would  talk  Latin 
for  two  hours;  at  least  so  it  would  seem  to  those  who 
heard  him,  although  perhaps  it  was  not  half  that  time. 
When  he  found  that  no  great  success  attended  his 
usual  endeavours,  he  would  have  recourse  to  artifice ; 
but  as  a  regular  account  of  them  would  fill  a  volume, 
I  will  only  recount  one  little  manoeuvre,  which  will 
£ive  you  some  idea  of  his  genius  and  invention. 


LAZARILLO  DE  TORMES.  67 

He  had  preached  two  or  three  days  at  a  place  near 
Toledo,  and  had  not  neglected  his  usual  offerings ;  but 
he  found  his  indulgences  go  off  but  slowly,  with  very 
Uttle  appearance  of  improvement,  for  which  he  very 
heartily  wished  the  good  people  at  the  devil.  Being 
at  his  wit's  end  what  to  do,  he  invited  all  the  people 
to  the  church  the  next  morning,  to  take  his  farewell. 
After  supper  that  evening  he  and  the  Alguazil  sat 
down  to  enjoy  themselves,  and  in  the  course  of  their 
entertainment  some  dispute  arose,  which  increased 
to  very  high  words.  He  called  the  Alguazil  thief, 
which  the  other  retorted  by  calling  him  impostor. 
On  this,  the  Bulero  caught  up  a  weapon  lying  near, 
ind  the  Alguazil  drew  his  sword  to  defend  himself. 
The  noise  was  so  great  that  the  neighbours  ran  in 
to  inquire  into  the  cause,  and  with  some  difficulty 
separated  the  enraged  combatants.  They  continued, 
however,  to  revile  each  other  with  words,  although, 
by  reason  of  the  house  being  filled  with  people,  they 
could  not  vent  their  rage  with  blows;  the  Alguazil 
continually  calling  out  that  my  master  was  an  im- 
postor, and  that  his  indulgences  were  forged.  The 
neighbours  seeing  that  peace  could  not  be  restored, 
took  away  the  Alguazil  to  another  inn,  to  prevent 
mischief;  and  after  some  time,  the  uproar  subsiding, 
we  went  to  bed. 

In  the  morning  my  master  went  to  the  church 
to  preach  his  farewell  sermon.  The  people  were  all 
there,  murmuring  about  the  authenticity  of  the  bull, 
saying  that  the  Alguazil  had  discovered  it  to  them ; 
and  if  they  were  indisposed  towards  the  indulgences 


68  MEtiDOZA. 

before,  they  were  now  little  likely  to  purchase  them. 
The.  reverend  commissary  ascended  the  pulpit  and 
commenced  his  sermon.  He  expatiated  on  the  merits 
of  the  Pope's  holy  commission,  and  of  the  infallible 
virtues  of  the  indulgences  which  the  bull  guaranteed. 
The  sermon  was  proceeding  in  this  manner  when  the 
Alguazil  entered  the  church,  and  taking  advantage 
of  an  opportunity,  rose,  and  with  a  loud  voice,  but 
discreet  manner,  he  addressed  the  congregation : — 
"  JVIy  good  people,  hear  me  but  one  word,  and  listen 
to  whomsoever  you  please  afterwards.  I  came  here 
with  yonder  cheat  who  is  now  preaching  to  you,  and, 
seduced  by  him,  I  promised  to  favour  his  deception 
and  divide  the  gains.  But  as  my  conscience  is  uneasy 
at  thus  assisting  to  rob  you  of  your  money,  I  take 
this  opportunity  of  declaring  before  you  all  that  the 
bull  is  forged,  and  that  the  indulgences  are  false. 
And  after  this  confession  I  beg  you  to  bear  witness, 
if  at  any  future  time  this  rogue  meet  with  punish- 
ment as  an  impostor,  that  I  am  not  implicated 
therein,  but  have  done  all  in  my  power  to  expose 
him  and  warn  you." 

Many  respectable  people,  to  prevent  the  scandal 
of  the  thing  proceeding  further,  wished  to  turn  the 
Alguazil  out  of  the  church,  but  the  reverend  preacher 
would  by  no  means  permit  such  violence;  and  thus 
the  Alguazil  had  the  liberty  of  saying  all  he  wished. 
When  he  was  silent,  my  master  rose  and  asked  him 
if  he  wished  to  say  more,  on  which  he  replied,  "  I 
could  say  plenty  more  concerning  your  rogueries,  but 
for  the  present  what  I  have  said  is  sufficient." 


LAZARILLO  DE  TORMES.  69 

The  devout  commissary  of  his  holiness  then  threw 
himself  on  his  knees  in  the  pulpit,  and,  casting  his 
arms  and  eyes  towards  heaven,  he  exclaimed,  "O 
Lord  !  to  whom  nothing  is  hidden,  Thou  knowest  the 
truth,  and  how  cruelly  I  am  calumniated.  I  forgive 
all  that  personally  concerns  me,  but  to  that  which 
relates  to  my  holy  calling  I  cannot  be  indifferent, 
inasmuch  as  many  here  may  be  induced  to  give  credit 
to  what  has  been  falsely  spoken,  to  the  injury  of  their 
own  souls  and  of  my  holy  mission.  I  therefore  pray 
Thee,  O  Lord,  to  vouchsafe  by  a  miracle  to  show  the 
whole  truth  as  to  this  matter.  If  I  deal  in  falsehood 
and  iniquity,  may  the  pulpit  on  which  I  now  kneel 
sink  with  me  seven  fathoms  below  the  earth,  so  that 
I  may  never  be  heard  of  again ;  and  if  what  is  said 
be  false,  and  prompted  by  the  devil  to  deprive  these 
good  people  here  of  the  comforts  of  which  I  am  the 
bearer,  let  the  author  of  the  calumny  be  punished,  so 
that  all  present  may  be  convinced  of  his  malice." 

Hardly  had  my  pious  master  finished  his  prayer, 
when  the  Alguazil  fell  from  the  place  where  he  was 
standing,  and  with  such  a  noise  that  the  whole  church 
resounded  with  the  fall.  His  countenance  became 
distorted,  and  he  began  to  foam  at  the  mouth,  utter- 
ing frightful  curses,  and  rolling  about  in  the  utmost 
apparent  agony.  At  this  wonderful  interposition  of 
Providence,  the  clamour  became  so  great  that  no  one 
could  hear  himself  speak.  Some  were  frightened, 
and  cried,  "  Lord,  Lord,  have  mercy  on  the  sinner;" 
while  others  said,  "  It  served  him  right  for  his  false 
testimony ;  let  him  kick  and  go  to  the  devil ! " 


70  MENDOZA. 

Finally,  however,  some  individuals  went  to  his 
assistance,  though  not  without  evident  fear,  and  tried 
to  hold  his  arms  and  legs;  but  he  gave  them  such 
fierce  salutes,  dealing  his  favours  so  vigorously  and 
dexterously,  that  many  were  much  hurt,  and  it  re- 
quired at  least  seventeen  men  to  hold  him  down. 

While  this  was  proceeding  my  sainted  master  was 
on  his  knees  in  the  pulpit,  his  hands  and  eyes  turned 
towards  heaven,  apparently  filled  with  the  Divine 
essence,  and  utterly  unconscious  of  the  noises  and 
disturbance  around  him,  so  completely  was  he  wrapt 
in  his  heavenly  meditations.  Some  approached  him 
and  begged  him,  "for  the  love  of  God,  to  succour 
the  poor  wretch  who  was  dying ;  and  that,  doubtless, 
at  his  intercession  the  Lord  would  not  prolong  his 
sufferings." 

The  devout  commissary,  as  though  disturbed  from 
a  sweet  vision,  looked  around  him,  first  at  the  sup- 
pliants and  then  at  the  delinquent.  "  My  good 
friends,"  said  he  slowly,  "  you  ought  not  to  ask  a 
favour  for  him  whom  God  has  so  signally  chastised. 
But  as  He  has  commanded  that  we  should  return 
good  for  evil,  we  may  with  more  confidence  implore 
His  pardon  for  the  poor  wretch  who  had  dared  to 
place  an  obstacle  in  the  way  of  His  holy  commission." 
Then,  descending  from  the  pulpit,  he  desired  them 
all  to  pray  for  the  sinner,  and  that  the  devil  with 
which  he  was  possessed  might  be  cast  out.  The 
congregation  with  one  accord  threw  themselves  on 
their  knees,  and  commenced  in  a  low  voice  to  repeat 
the  litany  j  while  my  master,  before  he  approached 


LAZARILLO  DE  TORMES.  71 

the  possessed  sinner  with  the  cross  and  holy  water, 
turning  his  eyes  to  heaven  till  the  whites  could  only 
be  seen,  delivered  a  pious  oration,  which  drew  tears 
from  the  eyes  of  the  hearers.  This  being  finished,  he 
commanded  the  holy  bull  to  be  brought  and  placed 
on  the  head  of  the  possessed,  and  immediately  the 
sinner  of  an  Alguazil  began  by  degrees  to  recover 
himself.  Directly  he  was  restored  to  consciousness, 
he  threw  himself  at  the  feet  of  the  holy  commissary 
and  implored  his  pardon.  He  confessed  that  what 
he  did  was  by  the  commandment  of  the  devil,  who 
was  excessively  annoyed  at  the  appearance  of  the  holy 
man,  and  was  fearful  that  he  should  lose  his  dominion 
over  the  people  if  they  were  to  purchase  his  indul- 
gences. My  master,  in  the  most  benevolent  manner, 
pardoned  him,  and  interchanged  kindnesses  with  him, 
giving  him  advice  very  much'  to  his  comfort  and 
advantage.  Great  now  wras  the  demand  for  indul- 
gences amongst  the  bystanders,  and  not  an  individual 
would  go  from  church  without  one,  neither  man, 
woman,  nor  child. 

The  news  soon  spread,  and  people  came  flocking 
from  all  parts,  so  that  no  sermons  were  necessary  in 
the  church  to  convince  them  of  the  benefits  likely  to 
result  to  the  purchasers.  The  inn  where  we  resided 
was  crowded  with  applicants,  and  wherever  we  went 
in  that  district  thousands  of  indulgences  were  sold 
without  a  single  sermon  being  preached.  I  must 
confess  that  I,  amongst  many  others,  was  deceived 
at  the  time,  and  thought  my  master  a  miracle  of 
sanctity ;  but  hearing  the  merriment  which  it  afforded 


72  MENDOZA. 

to  the  holy  commissary  and  the  Alguazil,  I  began 
to  suspect  that  it  originated  in  the  peculiarly  fertile 
invention  of  my  master,  and  although  young,  from 
that  moment  I  ceased  to  be  a  child  of  grace;  for  I 
argued  within  myself,  "  If  I,  being  an  eyewitness 
to  such  an  imposition,  could  almost  believe  it,  how 
many  more,  amongst  this  poor  innocent  people,  must 
be  imposed  on  by  these  robbers? " 

I  quitted  my  fifth  master  at  the  end  of  four 
months,  during  which  I  experienced  some  very 
fatiguing  and  unpleasant  adventures. 


(    73 


CHAPTER    VI. 

HOW  LAZARO  AGREED  TO  SERVE  A  CHAPLAIN,  AND  HOW 
HE  FARED. 

I  NEXT  entered  into  arrangements  with  a  certain 
chaplain  whom  I  met  in  the  great  church,  and  who 
seeing  in  me  a  well-grown  and  conditioned  youth, 
took  me  forthwith  into  his  service,  and  put  under 
my  care  a  fine  ass,  and  four  narrow-necked  pitchers, 
along  with  a  whip,  with  all  which  I  commenced  to 
cry  one  of  the  four  elements,  namely,  pure  water, 
through  the  city. 

This  was  the  first  step  which  I  had  yet  made 
towards  attaining  an  easy  life,  for  I  had  here  a 
mouthful  at  will.  Every  day  I  delivered  to  my 
master  thirty  maravedis,  and  on  the  Sabbaths  I 
gained  what  I  could  for  myself,  amounting,  with 
what  I  made  in  the  week,  to  at  least  thirty  more. 
Such  was  my  success  in  this  new  office  that  at  the 
end  of  four  years,  by  the  use  of  some  caution  and 
address,  I  began  to  cut  a  very  gentlemanlike  ap- 
pearance out  of  my  master's  wardrobe,  by  the  sale 
of  which  I  was  enabled  to  buy  a  doublet  of  old 
fustian,  a  large  coat  with  trimmed  sleeves,  and  a 
cloak  lined  with  silk,  besides  one  of  the  old  famous 
swords  of  Cuellar.  I  had  no  sooner  beheld  myself 
thus  arrayed  like  a  man  of  some  note,  than  I  re- 
quested of  my  master  to  take  care  of  the  ass  him- 
self, for  that  I  had  done  with  that  particular  office. 


(    74    ) 


CHAPTER  VII. 

HOW LAZARO  ARGEED    TO  SERVE  AN  ALGUAZ1L,  AND  Of 
WHA  T  ENSUED. 

HAVING  bidden  the  chaplain  farewell,  I  joined 
the  train  of  justice,  and  entered  the  service  of  an 
Alguazil.  I  did  not,  however,  remain  in  it  long, 
inasmuch  as  I  found  it  a  dangerous  employment, 
and  particularly  on  one  night,  when  a  party  we 
were  conducting  set  on  and  stoned  us,  treating  my 
master,  whom  they  killed,  exceedingly  ill,  but  for- 
tunately stopping  short  of  that  with  myself. 

With  this  I  threw  up  the  trade,  and  considering 
in  what  mode  I  should  next  live  with  a  little  more 
safety  and  ease,  as  well  as  profit,  to  supply  my  old 
age,  it  pleased  Heaven  to  enlighten  and  put  me  into 
a  much  better  way,  insomuch  that  I  forgot  all  my 
past  anxieties  and  pains  in  the  favour  of  those  friends 
and  gentlemen  who  procured  me  an  office  under 
the  royal  government;  for  I  saw  that  no  one  so  well 
thrived  as  he  who  held  such  a  situation.  This  also  I 
yet  keep,  and  flourish  in  it,  with  the  permission 
of  God  and  of  every  good  customer.  In  fact,  my 
charge  is  that  of  making  public  proclamation  of  the 
wine  which  is  sold  in  these  places,  and  at  auctions, 
&c.  j  of  bearing  those  company  who  suffer  persecu- 


LAZARILLO  DE  TORMES.  75 

tion  for  justice'  sake,  and  publishing  to  the  world, 
with  a  loud  voice,  their  faults. 

I  have  succeeded  in  the  office  so  well,  and  with  so 
much  ease,  that  almost  all  matters  relating  to  it  are 
known  to  go  through  my  hands,  insomuch  that  the 
man  who  has  got  wine  or  other  thing  to  sell,  begins 
to  think  it  a  losing  concern  if  Lazaro  de  Tormes  has 
not  something  to  do  with  it. 

About  this  time,  perceiving  my  ability  and  my 
style  of  life,  the  arch-priest  of  Salvador,  to  whom  I 
was  introduced,  and  who  was  under  obligation  to  me 
for  crying  his  wine,  showed  his  sense  of  it  by  uniting 
me  with  one  of  his  own  domestics. 

I  conceived  that  nothing  but  a  favourable  influence 
and  patronage  would  accrue  from  this  step,  and  from 
that  hour  I  have  never  repented  it ;  for  besides  being 
a  good  creature,  diligent  and  useful,  my  wife  has  pre- 
served the  countenance  of  my  lord  arch-priest,  and 
on  holidays  and  festivals  he  is  sure  to  make  her  some 
solid  present,  either  from  his  larder  or  his  wardrobe, 
which  really  serves  to  keep  us  in  good  plight;  and  as 
to  house  rent,  he  engaged  for  us,  and  we  live  within 
a  short  distance  of  him.  Many  a  good  day  in  fact 
we  celebrate  at  his  own  table ;  but  evil  tongues  will 
be  busy  and  give  out  all  kinds  of  reports,  as  to  all 
this  being  done  more  out  of  compliment  to  my  wife 
than  to  myself.  God  give  the  world  more  grace  to 
tell  the  truth  ;  not  that  my  wife  disturbs  herself  for 
the  wagging  of  a  few  tongues,  and  a  little  barking 
where  they  cannot  bite.  Our  good  priest,  moreover, 
came  one  day  and  thus  addressed  me,  "  Lazaro,  my 


76  MENDOZA. 

friend,  whoever  pays  attention  to  the  envious  remarks 
of  others  will  never  thrive.  I  say  it,  lest  you  should 
heed  what  they  say  respecting  your  wife's  visits  to 
see  her  old  master:  it  is  all  kindly  meant;  and  your 
honour  is  safe,  that  I  can  promise  you.  Dream  not 
of  honour  then,  but  stick  to  profit,  and  conduct 
thyself  like  a  wise  man." 

"  My  lord,"  I  replied,  "  it  is  true  that  some  of  my 
friends  have  touched  upon  this  subject,  and  even 
dared  to  assert  that,  before  my  marriage  with  your 
maid,  she  had  already  been  brought  to  bed  three 
times,  speaking  with  all  reverence,  by  means  of  your 
lordship ;  such  is  the  power  of  calumny  in  ill-dis- 
posed minds." 

Upon  hearing  this  my  wife,  who  was  present,  be- 
gan to  cross  herself  and  appeal  to  all  the  saints,  so 
that  I  feared  the  house  would  open  under  our  feet; 
after  this  she  burst  into  a  loud  weeping,  and  rapped 
out  a  thousand  maledictions  upon  the  head  of  him 
who  had  first  joined  her  in  wedlock  with  Lazaro  de 
Tormes — my  humble  self.  "  Would,"  she  said,  "  I 
had  died  ere  that  fatal  word  had  issued  from  these 
lips."  But  I  on  one  side,  and  my  lord  on  the  other, 
soon  succeeded  in  drying  her  tears,  vowing,  as  I  did, 
never  to  allude  in  the  slightest  manner  to  that  deli- 
cate subject  more,  assuring  her  that  such  was  my 
confidence  that  I  would  be  glad  to  see  her  going  at 
all  hours,  either  by  night  or  day,  into  my  good 
patron's  house.  In  this  way  we  all  three  soon  be- 
came reconciled  to  ourselves  and  to  each  other. 
Never  to  this  day  has  a  hint  escaped  me  relative  to 


LAZARILLO  DE  TORMES.  77 

the  matter;  and  if  I  hear  any  one  so  much  as 
approach  the  most  distant  confines  of  it,  I  seize  him 
by  the  button,  and  exclaim,  "  If  you  be  a  friend  of 
mine,  do  not  utter  what  you  know  will  give  me 
pain ;  for  I  do  not  hold  him  a  true  one  who  wishes 
to  excite  mischief,  and  more  especially  between  me 
and  my  wife — the  object  to  whom  I  am  most 
attached  in  life,  and  who,  by  the  grace  of  God,  con- 
fers on  me  greater  benefits  than  I  can  ever  deserve. 
I  would  swear  to  you  by  the  Holy  Host  she  is  as 
good  a  wife  as  lives  within  the  walls  of  Toledo;  and 
let  my  worst  enemy  say  no,  and  I  will  fight  him  on 
that  theme  to  the  death." 

All  this  happened  the  same  year  that  our  victorious 
Emperor  Charles  made  his  entry  into  this  celebrated 
city  of  Toledo,  and  there  held  his  court,  bringing 
with  him  a  season  of  feast  and  jubilee,  of  which  all 
must  have  heard. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

\.AZARO'S  AMOUNT  OF  THE  FRIENDSHIP  HE  FORMED 
IN  TOLEDO  WITH  SOME  GERMANS,  AND  OF  WHAT 
PASSED  BETWEEN  THEM. 

A.T  this  time  I  had  reached  my  most  prosperous 
"  and  palmy  state."  I  was  at  the  top  of  the  ladder, 
ind  enjoyed  all  kind  of  good  fortune.  Wherever  I 
went  I  was  accompanied  by  a  good  assortment  of 
fruits  and  other  rarities,  such  as  are  produced  and 
cried  in  this  our  favoured  land,  samples  of  all  which 
I  displayed  to  view ;  and  thus  obtained  such  a  con- 
nection, both  among  natives  and  foreigners,  that  T 
found  open  house  wheresoever  I  chose  to  direct  my 
steps.  I  was,  in  short,  such  a  favourite  that,  I 
believe,  had  I  wished  to  kill  a  man  out  of  mere 
whim,  or  chanced  to  fall  into  any  horrible  scrape,  I 
should  have  found  everybody  upon  my  side,  and  got 
clear  off  by  means  of  noble  friends  and  connections 
in  high  life.  I  never  left  them  empty-handed ;  they 
always  took  from  me  some  of  the  most  choice  articles 
in  the  city — a  city  in  which  we  spent  so  glorious  a 
life.  When  in  their  company  they  never  permitted 
us  to  put  our  hands  into  our  pockets  or  expend  the 
least  item,  declaring  that,  both  on  my  wife's  account 
and  my  own,  they  should  take  it  as  an  affront.  I 


LAZAR1LLO  DE  TORMES.  79 

could  not  find  words  to  express  the  pleasure  I  felt  in 
their  society;  and  not  only  this,  but  they  crowded 
our  table  with  every  delicacy  of  the  season,  so  that 
every  day  we  had  a  store  by  us  enough  to  last  a 
whole  family  for  a  week.  In  this  land  of  plenty  I 
often  recalled  to  mind  my  days  of  fast  and  penance, 
and  gave  thanks  to  the  Lord  that  things,  both  in 
general  and  in  particular,  went  so  well. 
But  as  the  old  proverb  has  it — 

"  Quien  bien  te  hara, 
O  se  te  ira  6  se  morira." 

So  indeed  it  happened  to  me,  for  the  grand  court 
changed  its  residence;  and  though  my  great  friends 
wished  me  to  go  along  with  them,  and  promised  me 
fine  things,  I  bethought  me  again  of  the  old  saying, 
that  a  "  bird  in  the  hand  is  worth  two  in  the  bush," 
and  so  we  took  leave  of  them  with  many  expressions 
of  sorrow  and  regret. 

Of  a  truth,  had  I  not  been  married  I  could  have 
gone  along  with  them,  so  much  was  their  society 
agreeable  to  my  taste,  and  their  life,  moreover,  being 
one  every  way  worthy  of  imitation  ;  abounding  in 
all  that  is  good  and  pleasing,  and  suffering  none 
within  its  happy  sphere  to  feel  any  wish  unsatisfied. 

But  the  love  of  my  wife  and  of  my  country  pre- 
vailed ;  and  I  remained  in  this  city,  although  well 
known  to  its  inhabitants,  apart  from  the  pleasures  of 
a  court  and  the  society  of  such  friends.  My  satis- 
faction was  shortly  afterwards  increased  by  the  birth 
of  a  daughter;  a  little  beauty,  which  my  wife  de- 


8o 

clared  by  all  the  saints  she  believed  to  be  my  own. 
This  happy  state  J  now  conceived  would  continue; 
but  fortune  soon  began  to  show  another  aspect,  and 
a  fresh  series  of  miseries  and  difficulties  of  every  kind 
followed  her  altered  looks,  which  ended  in  death,  and 
which  it  would  be  too  cruel  and  severe  a  task  for  me 
to  pretend  to  recount. 


GUZMAN     D'ALFARACHE. 


VOL.  I. 


MATED     ALEMAN, 

BY  THOMAS  ROSCOE. 


MATEO  ALEMAN  was  a  writer  of  considerable  emi- 
nence in  the  reign  of  Philip  II.,  although  the  parti- 
culars of  his  life  are  few.  We  learn  from  Nicholas 
Antonio,  that  he  was  a  native  of  Seville,  and  was 
employed  under  the  Government;  but  having  a  dis- 
taste for  such  occupation,  he  threw  up  his  situation, 
and  crossed  the  sea  to  Mexico,  in  which  city  he  was 
some  time  a  resident,  and  published  there,  in  the  year 
1609,  his  "  Ortografia  Castellana;  "  likewise  a  life  of 
San  Antonio  de  Padua,  with  a  eulogium  on  the  life 
of  that  saint,  written  in  very  good  Latin.  He  was 
also  the  author  of  a  Latin  dialogue  called  "  Pro- 
metheus," in  imitation  of  Lucian. 

But  the  work  which  has  gained  for  him  the  title 
of  novelist,  and  classed  him  amongst  that  school,  so 
humorously  and  happily  conceived  and  brought  into 
popular  regard  by  Mendoza,  is  his  "  Vita  del  Picaro 
Guzman  d'Alfarache ; "  of  which  that  honoured  pla- 
giarist, Le  Sage,  knew  so  well  how  to  avail  himself 
in  after  times,  accommodating  his  literary  larceny  to 
<;he  habits  and  taste  of  his  own  countrymen. 


84  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

The  work  has  been  translated  into  every  European 
language ;  and  a  book  well  deserves  the  honour  which 
has,  since  the  year  1599,  six  years  before  Cervantes 
gained  immortal  renown  by  his  "  Don  Quixote,"  pre- 
served its  national  popularity  unimpaired,  and  which 
portrays  with  the  most  vivid  exactitude,  the  most 
pure  morality,  chastened  and  correct  language,  and 
an  easy  and  natural  style,  the  manners  of  the  Spanish 
serviles,  the  wretched  and  destitute,  an  important 
class  in  a  nation  so  subjected  to  the  privileged  orders. 
He  has,  moreover,  mixed  and  contrasted  the  picture 
with  that  of  the  more  exclusive  orders  which  influ- 
enced European  society  at  that  period. 

That  corruption  of  literary  taste  which  originated 
in  excessive  refinement  had  not  then  shown  itself; 
but  the  work  is  not  free  from  other  defects,  which 
may  be  attributed  to  the  nature  of  the  composition 
and  the  age  in  which  it  was  written. 

Desirous  of  portraying  the  actual  state  of  things, 
the  author  sometimes  represents  them  worse  than 
they  were;  and  aiming  at  the  familiar  and  colloquial, 
he  sometimes  quits  a  graceful  irony  for  low  satire  and 
buffoonery. 

But,  with  all  these  defects,  it  ranks  higher  than  any 
works  of  the  class  which  had  been  previously  written  ; 
and  infinitely  superior  to  that  which  appeared  from 
the  pen  of  his  imitator,  Lopez  de  Ubeda,  called  "  La 
Picara  Justina,"  a  book  richly  deserving  the  contempt 
with  which  it  is  treated  by  the  critical  curate  who 
passes  judgment  on  Don  Quixote's  library. 


THE 

LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE. 

CHAPTER    I. 

INTRODUCTION. 

I  WAS  so  desirous,  curious  reader,  to  relate  to  you 
my  own  adventures,  that  I  had  almost  commenced 
speaking  of  myself  without  making  any  mention  of 
my  family,  with  which  some  sophist  or  other  would 
not  have  failed  to  accuse  me  :  "  Be  not  so  hasty,  friend 
Guzman,"  would  he  have  said ;  "  let  us  begin,  if  you 
please,  from  the  definition,  before  we  proceed  to 
speak  of  the  thing  defined.  Inform  us,  in  the  first 
place,  who  were  your  parents;  you  can  then  relate 
to  us  at  your  pleasure  those  exploits  which  you  have 
so  immoderate  a  desire  to  entertain  us  with." 

To  proceed,  therefore,  in  due  course,  I  will  intro- 
duce my  parents  to  your  notice.  Were  I  to  relate 
their  history,  I  doubt  not  that  you  would  find  it 
more  entertaining  than  my  own ;  but  think  not  that 
I  am  going  so  far  to  enlarge  at  their  expense  as  to 
reveal  all  that  I  know  of  them  :  let  any  other  that 
pleases  rake  up  the  ashes  of  the  dead,  and  regale 


86  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

himself  on  their  bodies,  like  the  hyena;  for  my  part, 
I  shall  so  far  respect  the  memory  of  my  parents,  as 
to  pass  over  in  silence  such  things  as  it  would  not 
become  me  to  speak  of;  and  it  is  even  my  wish  so 
to  set  off  such  as  I  shall  recount  to  you,  that  it  may 
be  said  of  me,  "  Blessed  be  the  man  who  thus  glosses 
over  the  crimes  of  his  ancestors." 

Their  conduct,  however,  has  certainly  not  always 
been  blameless,  and  some  of  their  actions  have  made 
so  much  noise  in  the  world,  that  it  were  in  vain  for 
me  to  attempt  to  make  them  appear  spotless.  I 
shall  only  give  the  lie  to  the  numerous  comments 
that  have  been  made  upon  the  truth ;  for,  God  be 
praised !  it  is  the  fashion  nowadays  to  disguise  truth 
by  such  comments.  Every  man  who  relates  a  story, 
whether  from  malice  or  ostentation,  is  sure  to  inter- 
lard with  it  some  portion  of  slander,  more  or  less; 
such  is  the  good  disposition  of  our  nature,  that  some- 
thing of  our  own  invention  must  be  added  to  that 
which  is  expected  of  us.  I  will  relate  to  you  an 
example  of  this. 

I  knew  a  gentleman  at  Madrid,  a  stranger,  who 
was  a  great  lover  of  Spanish  horses.  He  possessed 
two  of  a  remarkably  fine  shape,  a  sorrel  and  a  dapple- 
grey,  which  he  would  willingly  have  transported  to 
his  own  country;  but  it  not  being  lawful,  and,  be- 
sides, scarcely  possible,  on  account  of  the  very  great 
distance,  he  resolved  to  have  them  painted,  that  he 
might  at  least  have  the  pleasure  of  showing  their 
pictures  to  his  friends.  With  this  view  he  employed 
two  celebrated  painters,  to  each  of  whom  he  gave  a 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.       87 

horse  to  paint;  promising,  over  and  above  the  price 
agreed  on,  to  recompense  handsomely  the  one  whose 
performance  should  excel  the  other's. 

The  first  painted  the  sorrel  almost  to  the  life,  and 
filled  up  the  rest  of  his  canvas  with  light  strokes  and 
shades.  The  other  painter  was  not  so  perfect  in  the 
dapple-grey ;  but,  to  make  amends,  he  adorned  the 
upper  part  of  his  picture  with  trees,  clouds,  a  beauti- 
ful perspective  and  venerable  ruins,  and  he  repre- 
sented, at  the  lower  part,  an  open  country  abounding 
with  shrubs,  meadows,  and  waterfalls.  In  the  cor- 
ner of  his  piece  he  had  suspended  all  manner  of 
horse-furniture  on  the  trunk  of  a  tree,  wi^h  a  hunt- 
ing-saddle, which  for  workmanship  could  not  be 
excelled. 

When  the  gentleman  saw  the  two  paintings,  he 
with  reason  very  much  preferred  the  sorrel  to  the 
other,  paid  without  hesitation  what  the  artist  de- 
manded, and  presented  him  besides  with  a  fine  ring. 
The  other  painter  seeing  the  stranger  so  liberal,  and 
conceiving  that  he  deserved  a  much  greater  recom- 
pence  than  his  rival,  set  his  performance  at  an 
excessive  rate;  at  which  the  gentleman,  been  sur- 
prised, asked  *him,  "  How  he  could  for  a  moment 
imagine  that  he  would  purchase  his  painting  at  a 
higher  rate  than  the  other,  to  which  it  was  un- 
doubtedly much  inferior?"  "Inferior!"  answered 
the  painter,  "  I  grant  that  my  brother  may  have 
excelled  me  in  the  horse,  but  my  shrubs  and  ruins 
alone  are  worth  much  more  than  the  whole  of  his 
painting."  "  I  had  no  occasion,"  answered  the 


88  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

gentleman,  tf  for  your  shrubs  and  ruins,  we  have 
enough  of  those  in  our  own  country.  In  one  word, 
all  that  I  desired  of  you  was  a  true  painting  of  my 
horse." 

The  painter  replied,  that  "  A  horse  alone  would 
have  had  but  a  very  poor  effect  in  so  large  a  piece, 
whereas  the  ornaments  he  had  introduced  had  given 
great  relief  to  its  appearance.  Besides,"  added  he, 
"  I  could  not  think  of  leaving  a  horse  without  saddle 
and  bridle,  and  those  that  I  have  made  I  would  not 
change  for  others,  though  made  of  gold."  "  Once 
more,"  said  the  stranger,  "  all  I  asked  of  you  was  a 
horse,  for  which  I  am  ready  to  pay  you  a  reasonable 
price.  In  regard  to  the  saddle  and  bridle,  you  have 
only  to  dispose  of  them  as  you  please."  Thus,  for 
having  done  more  than  was  desired  of  him,  the  artist 
was  not  paid  for  his  trouble. 

How  many  people  are  there  in  the  world  like  this 
painter!  A  plain  horse  only  is  required  of  them, 
and  they  will,  peremptorily,  give  you  him  saddled 
and  bridled.  Once  more,  slanderous  commentaries 
are  the  fashion,  and  nobody  escapes  them.  Judge 
then,  reader,  if  my  parents  have  been  spared. 


CHAPTER   II. 

OP  THE  PARENTS  OF  GUZMAN,  BUT  MORE  PARTICULARLY 
OF  HIS  FA  THER. 

MY  ancestors,  as  well  as  my  father,  were  originally 
from  the  Levant ;  but  having  settled  in  Genoa,  and 
been  ingrafted  with  the  noblesse  there,  I  shall  call 
them  Genoese. 

They  employed  themselves  in  the  traffic  of  ex- 
changes, which  was  much  practised  among  the  gentry 
of  that  city.  It  is  true  that  they  acted  in  such  a 
manner  in  their  commerce,  that  their  credit  was  soon 
publicly  cried  down,  and  they  were  accused  of  usury ; 
it  was  moreover  said  of  them  that  they  lent  money 
at  an  exorbitant  interest,  upon  plate  and  other  good 
security,  for  a  limited  time,  at  the  expiration  of 
which  the  pledges,  if  not  redeemed,  remained  at 
their  disposal ;  sometimes  they  even  denied  them- 
selves, and  evaded  persons  who  came  for  the  purpose 
of  reclaiming  their  property  at  the  stipulated  time, 
and  very  frequently  restitution  could  only  be  ob- 
tained by  an  appeal  to  justice. 

My  parents  well  knew  that  they  were  reproached 
with  these  and  the  like  villanies,  but  as  they  were 
prudent,  peaceful  people,  they  always  went  on  their 
own  way,  and  cared  not  what  detractors  said  of 


90  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

them.  In  fact,  when  one  behaves  with  decorum, 
why  pay  any  regard  to  such  slander?  My  father 
was  a  constant  attendant  at  church,  and  always 
carried  about  with  him  a  rosary  of  fifteen  complete 
sections,  each  bead  of  which  was  larger  than  a  hazel- 
nut.  He  never  failed  at  mass;  humbly  kneeling 
before  the  altar,  with  his  hands  folded  together  and 
his  eyes  turned  up  towards  heaven,  he  uttered  such 
ejaculations,  and  sighed  with  so  much  fervency,  that 
he  inspired  all  around  him  with  devotion.  Can  it 
be  believed,  then,  without  injustice,  that  with  so 
truly  religious  an  outward  appearance,  he  was  cap- 
able of  the  infamous  transactions  of  which  he  was 
accused  ?  God  only  is  able  to  form  a  correct  judg- 
ment of  the  heart  of  man.  T  confess,  that  if  T  saw 
a  religious  man  enter  a  house  in  the  night-time, 
armed  with  a  sword,  I  might  suspect  his  intentions ; 
but  that  such  a  man  as  my  father,  who  was  con- 
stantly seen  to  act  in  this  Christian-like  manner, 
should  be  taxed  with  hypocrisy,  is  a  piece  of  malig- 
nity which  I  cannot  pass  over. 

Thus,  though  he  had  determined  to  treat  all  these 
unpleasant  reports  respecting  him  with  contempt,  he 
found  that  he  had  not  always  resolution  sufficient  to 
bear  them  with  patience.  That  he  might  hear  no 
more  of  them,  therefore,  he  determined  upon  leaving 
the  city.  Another  reason  for  his  taking  this  reso- 
lution was,  that  he  had  received  information  that  his 
correspondent  at  Seville,  with  whom  he  was  engaged 
for  a  considerable  sum,  had  become  a  bankrupt.  At 
this  distressing  intelligence  he  embarked  immediately 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.       91 

for  Spain,  in  the  hope  of  meeting  with  that  person. 
But  the  vessel  in  which  he  sailed  being  taken  by  the 
corsairs,  he  was  made  a  slave  and  carried  to  Algiers. 

My  father  was  now  not  only  afflicted  at  the  loss 
of  his  liberty,  but  was  obliged  to  give  up  all  hope  of 
regaining  his  money.  In  his  despair  he  took  the 
turban ;  and  having,  by  his  insinuating  manner, 
been  happy  enough  to  be  well  received  by  a  rich 
widow'  at  Algiers,  he  shortly  afterwards  married  her. 

In  the  meantime  it  was  known  at  Genoa  that  he 
had  been  taken  prisoner  by  the  pirates,  and  this  news 
soon  came  to  the  ears  of  his  correspondent  at  Seville, 
who  was  the  more  rejoiced  at  it,  as  he  fancied  he  had 
got  rid  of  his  principal  creditor,  whom  he  considered 
a  slave  for  life.  Finding,  therefore,  that  one  way  or 
other  he  had  sufficient  remaining  to  satisfy  the  others, 
he  arranged  his  affairs  with  them  immediately.  So 
that,  having  discharged  all  his  debts,  according  to  the 
mode  prescribed  for  bankrupts,  he  found  himself 
able  to  commence  business  again  in  a  better  con- 
dition than  ever. 

On  the  other  hand,  my  father's  thoughts  were  still 
completely  occupied  with  the  remembrance  of  his 
correspondent's  bankruptcy,  and  lie  never  failed  to 
make  inquiries  respecting  him  in  all  his  letters  to 
Spain.  He  learned  by  this  means  that  his  debtor  had 
adjusted  his  affairs,  and  was  in  a  better  condition 
than  ever.  This  afforded  some  consolation  to  our  cap- 
tive, who  began  to  hope  from  that  moment  that  he 
should  recover  some  part  of  his  debt.  As  to  his 
having  taken  upon  him  the  Turkish  habit,  and  mar- 


92  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

ried  in  Algiers,  nothing  appeared  easier  to  him  than 
to  clear  himself  from  any  difficulty  on  that  score. 
The  first  thing  he  did  was  to  persuade  his  wife  to 
turn  all  her  property  into  ready  money,  telling  her 
that  he  was  desirous  to  trade  again.  In  respect  to 
what  jewels  she  had,  he  made  not  the  slightest 
scruple  to  possess  himself  of  them  before  she  had 
the  least  suspicion  of  his  intention. 

When  he  had  thus  got  everything  in  readiness, 
his  next  business  was  to  find  out  some  Christian 
captain  who,  out  of  compassion  for  him  and  for  a 
reasonable  remuneration,  would  undertake  to  trans- 
port him  to  the  Spanish  coast,  and  he  was  fortunate 
enough  to  meet  with  one  who  was  an  Englishman, 
with  a  feeling  heart  and  a  proper  sense  of  religion, 
which  the  majority  of  his  nation  generally  possess. 
Everything  was  so  well  ordered  that  they  had  got  a 
considerable  way  out  to  sea  with  my  father  and  his 
treasure  before  his  wife  had  any  knowledge  of  his 
departure.  To  add  to  his  good  luck,  the  vessel  was 
bound  for  Malaga,  whence  it  is  but  three  short  days' 
journey  to  Seville.  No  sooner  had  my  father  landed, 
than  the  idea  of  soon  securing  his  rascally  debtor 
seemed  to  complete  his  joy.  The  first  thing  he  did 
was  to  get  reconciled  to  the  Church ;  more,  perhaps, 
from  the  fear  of  penance  in  this  world,  than  from 
dread  of  punishment  in  the  world  to  come'. 

Having  got  rid  of  an  affair  of  so  great  impor- 
tance, he  thought  of  nothing  but  Seville,  whither  he 
hastened  immediately.  The  news  of  my  father's 
having  embraced  Mahometanism  had  got  to  Seville 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.       93 

iong  before  him,  and  his  correspondent  felt  so  well 
assured  of  it,  that  he  was  enjoying  his  money  with- 
out entertaining  the  slightest  apprehension  of  ever 
being  compelled  to  make  any  account  of  it;  judge, 
therefore,  of  his  surprise  upon  seeing  the  Genoese 
strut  into  his  house  one  fine  morning,  with  an 
imperious  air,  and  dressed  in  a  manner  bearing  but 
little  resemblance  to  a  slave.  He  could  not  but  believe 
him  for  some  moments  to  be  some  spirit  in  the  form 
of  his  principal  creditor;  but  recollecting,  in  spite  of 
himself,  that  it  was  my  father,  in  his  own  flesh  and 
blood,  he  was  obliged  at  length  to  come  to  some 
explanation.  With  the  utmost  effrontery,  therefore, 
he  agreed  that  it  was  but  right  to  settle  accounts ;  but 
that  they  had  so  many  and  long  dealings  together, 
that  their  business  required  a  long  discussion.  It 
may  be  boldly  asserted,  that  during  their  commerce 
there  had  been  a  thousand  rogueries  on  both  sides, 
known  to  themselves  only;  and  as  the§e  slights 
of  hand,  or  mutual  juggles,  are  never  entered  on 
tradesmen's  books,  this  roguish  correspondent  had 
the  audacity  to  deny  three-fourths  of  them,  unmind- 
ful of  the  good  faith  and  honour  which  thieves  are 
said  so  religiously  to  observe  towards  each  other. 

What  more  have  I  to  tell  you?  After  the  perusal 
and  reperusal  of  many  papers  pro  and  con;  after  an 
infinity  of  demands  and  replies,  accompanied  by  re- 
proaches and  reciprocal  hard  words,  an  accommoda- 
tion was  made,  by  which  my  father  was  content  to 
lose  the  greater  part  of  his  demand.  Of  water  spilt 
we  must  recover  what  we  can,  and  certainly  my 


94  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

father  acted  wisely  in  ridding  himself  at  Malaga 
of  the  itch  of  Algiers.1  If  he  had  not  taken  this 
precaution,  he  would  have  obtained  no  redress,  nor 
would  he  have  touched  a  farthing  of  his  debt.  A 
man  of  his  correspondent's  character  might  easily 
have  taken  advantage  of  the  circumstance  at 
Seville,  perhaps  by  giving  the  half  of  his  debt  to 
the  Brothers  of  the  Holy  Inquisition  to  undertake 
the  cause  for  him.  You  may  judge  of  the  feeling 
he  entertained  towards  him  by  the  reports  that 
he  spread  to  his  disadvantage  throughout  Seville. 
What  absurdities  did  he  not  relate  to  all  the 
merchants  upon  'Change,  of  two  former  petty  bank- 
ruptcies of  the  Genoese,  which,  in  fact,  were  not 
without  fraud ;  but  do  other  merchants  act  differ- 
ently ?  Is  it  not  hard,  then,  thus  to  cry  down  one 
unfortunate  speculator  who,  to  repair  and  patch  up 
his  deranged  affairs,  has  recourse  to  a  little  bank- 
ruptcy ?  This  is  nothing  among  merchants ;  they 
easily  make  amends  to  each  other  by  a  compliment 
of  the  like  nature.  If  it  were  so  very  great  a  crime, 
would  not  justice  take  care  to  remedy  it?  Undoubt- 
edly; for  so  severe  is  she,  that  we  see  many  a  poor 
devil  well  whipped  and  sent  to  the  galleys  for  less 
than  five  or  six  reals. 

This  rascal  of  a  correspondent  was  not  content 
with  having  destroyed  my  father's  reputation  by 
divulging  his  two  bankruptcies;  his  malignity  went 
so  far  that  he  endeavoured  to  make  him  appear  ridi- 
culous in  the  world,  by  giving  out  that  he  took  more 
1  Alluding  to  his  having  taken  the  turban. 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.       95 

pains  with  his  person  than  an  antiquated  coquette, 
and  that  his  face  was  always  covered  with  red  and 
white  paint.  I  grant  you  that  my  father  curled  his 
hair  and  perfumed  himself,  and  took  a  vast  deal  of 
pains  with  his  teeth  and  hands.  But  what  of  this? 
he  loved  himself,  and  not  hating  women,  he  neglected 
nothing  that  he  thought  would  make  his  person  agree- 
able to  them.  This  afforded  find  sport  for  our  cor- 
respondent, who  at  first  did  some  harm ;  but  as 
soon  as  my  father  became  somewhat  better  known 
at  Seville,  he  contrived  to  efface  all  the  bad  impres- 
sions that  slander  had  made,  for  he  conducted  him- 
self in  so  plausible  a  manner,  and  made  a  show  of  so 
much  uprightness  and  sincerity  in  all  his  actions, 
that  he  gained  the  esteem  and  friendship  of  the  first 
merchants  in  that  city. 

With  the  sum  of  money  that  he  had  brought  with 
him  from  Algiers,  added  to  what  he  had  recovered 
from  his  correspondent,  my  father  now  found  him- 
self worth  about  40,000  livres,  which  was  not  an 
inconsiderable  sum  for  him,  who  knew  well  how  to 
conduct  his  business  as  a  wholesale  trader.  Nobody 
made  greater  noise  than  he  on  the  Exchange  :  so  well 
did  he  get  on,  that  after  some  years  he  purchased  a 
house  in  town  and  another  in  the  country ;  he  fur- 
nished them  both  in  a  magnificent  manner,  especially 
his  house  of  pleasure  at  St.  Juan  d'Alfarache,  whence 
I  derive  my  title.  "But  as  he  loved  pleasure,  this 
house  was  the  cause  of  his  ruin,  by  the  very  frequent 
expenses  he  was  led  into;  so  that  he  insensibly 
neglected  his  affairs  and  trusted  to  his  clerks ;  and  to 


96  MATEO  ALBMAN. 

keep  up  appearances  he  was  obliged  to  have  recourse 
to  play  with  rich  merchants  whom  he  invited  and 
entertained  for  that  purpose,  and  of  whom  he  gener- 
ally won. 


CHAPTER  III. 

GUZMAN  RELATES  HOW  HIS  FATHER  MAKES  AN  AC- 
QUAINTANCE WITH  A  LADY,  WITH  THE  CONSE- 
QUENCES THEREOF. 

SUCH  was  the  life  my  father  led,  when  being  one 
day  on  'Change  among  other  merchants,  he  dis- 
covered afar  off  a  christening  which  seemed  to  belong 
to  persons  of  distinction ;  everybody  hastened  to  see 
it  pass,  especially  as  it  was  whispered  that  it  was  the 
child  of  some  person  of  quality,  whose  baptism  was 
wished  to  be  as  private  as  possible. 

My  father  followed  with  the  rest  to  the  church, 
and  stationed  himself  at  the  font ;  not  so  much  out 
of  a  desire  to  see  the  ceremony,  as  the  face  of  a  lady 
whom  an  old  knight  led,  and  who,  as  it  appeared, 
was  to  stand  for  the  infant,  with  this  superannuated 
cavalier.  Both  the  face  and  figure  of  this  lady  were 
so  admirable,  that  my  father  was  much  struck  with 
her  appearance.  Although  in  an  undress,  he  could 
not  but  admire  her  graceful  deportment,  and,  as  she 
chanced  to  raise  her  veil  for  an  instant,  he  beheld  a 
face  which  completely  charmed  him  :  there  certainly 
was  not  a  more  lovely  woman  in  Seville.  He  kept 
his  eye  immovably  fixed  upon  this  charmer,  who  was 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  UALFARACHE.       9; 

far  from  being  displeased  at  observing  it ;  for  beautiful 
women  are  never  vexed  at  a  man's  looking  at  them 
with  admiration,  although  he  be  of  the  very  dregs  of 
the  people.  She,  in  her  turn,  took  a  very  minute 
survey  of  the  merchant,  and  not  considering  him 
unworthy  of  a  tender  look,  she  bestowed  one  on  him, 
which  had  the  desired  effect  so  completely  that  he 
scarcely  recollected  where  he  was.  He  was  not,  how- 
ever, so  entirely  lost  as  to  forget  to  follow  his  mistress, 
after  the  ceremony,  to  ascertain  where  she  resided 
and  who  she  was.  He  found  that  she  lived  with  this 
old  knight,  and  was  kept  by  him  in  a  very  expensive 
style,  out  of  an  income  that  he  derived  from  two  or 
three  rich  benefices  in  his  possession. 

My  father  was  not  displeased  at  this  discovery,  for 
he  felt  sure  that  such  a  woman  could  not  live  very 
contentedly  with  her  old  companion.  With  this 
thought,  he  contrived  all  the  ways  he  could  to  see  her 
again  and  to  speak  to  her,  but  in  vain ;  he  never  met 
her  without  her  old  gallant,  who  never  lost  sight 
of  her.  But  these  difficulties  only  added  fuel  to  his 
flame,  and  served  but  to  make  him  sharper  and  more 
eager.  At  length  he  was  fortunate  enough,  by  dint 
of  presents  and  promises,  to  gain  over  to  him  a  duenna, 
without  whose  aid  he  could  never  have  succeeded; 
this  was  apparently  a  good,  religious  old  woman,  who 
(dissembler  as  she  was)  had  free  admittance  into  the 
knight's  house,  and  was  not  in  the  least  mistrusted. 
This  hypocrite,  a  true  agent  of  Satan,  excited  the 
lady's  passions  by  continually  speaking  of  the  love 
and  constancy  of  the  Genoese,  whose  good  qualities 

VOL.  i.  G 


98  MATEO  ALBMAN. 

she  did  not  fail  to  exaggerate.  The  lady,  who  did 
not  possess  the  disposition  of  a  tigress,  listened  so  far 
to  the  old  woman's  persuasions  that  she  commissioned 
her  to  desire  my  father  not  to  despair.  It  is  certain, 
and  not  to  be  wondered  at,  that  she  was  more  favour- 
ably disposed  towards  him  than  towards  her  old  knight, 
who  was  very  disgusting,  much  incommoded  with  the 
gravel  and  ofttimes  with  the  gout;  while,  on  the  con- 
trary, the  merchant  promised  to  realise  her  hopes  of 
an  active  and  vigorous  young  gallant.  A  woman  of 
experience  could  not  hesitate  an  instant  in  her  choice. 
But  as  she  was  a  prudent  woman,  who  had  more 
regard  to  her  interest  than  to  anything  else,  she  was 
rather  perplexed  how  to  act;  for  though  she  was 
night  and  day  completely  beset  by  her  keeper's  jealous 
fears,  so  that  it  was  scarcely  possible  for  her  to  carry 
on  a  secret  correspondence  with  the  Genoese,  yet  she 
was  feathering  her  nest  too  snugly  all  this  while, 
through  her  old  man's  kindnesses  to  her,  to  think  of 
giving  him  up  so  suddenly  for  a  stranger. 

Nevertheless,  the  lovers  came  to  a  proper  under- 
standing through  the  old  woman's  mediation ;  the 
only  difficulty  after  which  was  to  get  an  opportunity 
and  place  of  interview.  But  nothing  is  impossible  to 
love.  When  the  parties  are  agreed,  mountains  even 
shall  be  divided  to  give  them  way.  The  lady,  who 
was  a  woman  of  some  experience  in  these  matters, 
arranged  the  following  plan.  She  proposed  to  the 
old  gentleman  to  accompany  her  to  pass  the  day  at 
a  house  of  his  at  Gelvas.  It  was  the  most  pleasant 
time  of  the  year,  and  he  consented,  therefore,  to  the 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHB.       99 

proposal,  which  was  perfectly  agreeable  to  him.  It 
was  not  the  first  time  that  they  had  made  this  same 
trip  together,  the  old  gentleman  being  much  attached 
to  that  part  of  the  country.  Of  all  parts  of  Spain, 
Andalusia  is,  undoubtedly,  the  most  pleasant,  and  no 
part  of  Andalusia  is  so  attractive  as  Gelvas  and  St. 
Juan  d'Alfarache,  two  adjoining  villages,  which  the 
famous  river  Guadal quiver  fertilises  with  its  waters, 
winding  about  them  in  such  various  meanders  that 
it  appears  to  quit  them  with  regret.  The  spot 
abounds  with  beautiful  gardens,  the  most  delicious 
fruits  and  flowers,  fountains,  grottoes,  and  cascades. 
In  a  word,  everything  that  can  flatter  the  sight,  taste, 
and  smell  is  here  to  be  met  with  to  admiration. 

When  the  day  for  setting  out  on  this  trip  arrived, 
servants  were  sent  oft"  early  in  the  morning  to  get 
everything  ready  at  Gelvas.  Some  hours  after,  the 
knight  and  his  darling  started,  with  the  duenna  (who 
was  always  of  their  company,  and  never  at  all  in  the 
way),  all  three  on  quiet  mules,  and  followed  by  two 
footmen.  When  they  had  got  just  within  sight  of 
my  father's  house,  by  which  they  must  of  necessity 
pass,  the  young  lady  was  suddenly  taken  with  so 
violent  a  fit  of  the  cholic,  that  she  beseeched  the  old 
gentleman,  if  he  did  not  wish  to  see  her  die  on  the 
spot,  to  stop  immediately ;  then  slipping  gently  from 
the  saddle  to  the  ground,  as  if  she  was  half  dead,  she 
requested  some  rest  and  refreshment,  in  a  weak  voice, 
saying  that  she  could  go  no  farther.  The  old  man, 
who  from  his  heart  sincerely  pitied  her,  knew  not 
what  to  say  or  do;  but  the  duenna,  whose  cue  it  was 


166  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

now  to  speak,  represented  in  a  very  prudent  manner 
to  the  lady,  that  it  was  by  no  means  proper  that  she 
should  remain  in  such  a  situation  on  the  highway; 
that  if  she  could  not  manage  to  walk,  she  had  better 
allow  herself  to  be  carried  to  the  house  which  was  not 
far  off,  and  which  appeared  to  belong  to  some  person 
of  distinction,  who  could  not  refuse  to  afford  every 
accommodation  to  a  lady  who  so  much  required  it. 
The  old  gentleman  highly  approved  of  the  duenna's 
advice;  and  the  pretended  sick  lady  said,  thereupon, 
that  they  should  do  what  they  pleased  with  her,  but 
that  as  to  walking  so  far,  the  cruel  pains  she  was 
suffering  rendered  it  impossible.  The  two  footmen, 
therefore,  carried  her,  whilst  the  afflicted  old  knight 
walked  on  before  to  speak  to  the  people  of  the  house, 
to  entreat  them  to  afford  accommodation  to  his 
mistress  for  a  few  hours. 

I  have  already  told  you  that  this  house  was  my 
father's.  It  was  left  in  the  care  of  an  old  house- 
keeper, who  had  ample  instructions  how  to  behave 
to  serve  him  in  this  instance.  As  soon  as  she  heard  a 
knocking  at  the  door,  she  ran  to  open  it,  and  pre- 
tending to  be  astonished  at  seeing  a  stranger,  she 
inquired  his  business  in  a  trembling  voice.  "  I  only 
desire,"  answered  the  cavalier,  "  that  you  will  be  so 
kind  as  to  allow  a  lady,  whom  I  am  conducting  to 
Gelvas,  and  who  has  been  suddenly  taken  ill  at  a 
short  distance  from  hence,  to  rest  herself  for  a  short 
time  in  your  house,  and  that  you  will  be  kind  enough 
to  assist  us  in  the  application  of  something  which 
may  relieve  her."  "  If  that  be  all,"  replied  the  house- 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      101 

keeper,  "you  shall  have  every  reason  to  be  satisfied, 
for  you  could  not  have  pitched  upon  a  more  charit- 
able house."  In  the  meantime,  the  sick  lady  came 
up  to  them,  carried  by  her  two  footmen.  "Behold 
where  she  approaches,"  cried  the  knight,  "  suffering 
grievously  with  the  cholic."  "  Walk  in,  Sir  Knight, 
with  your  lady,"  said  the  housekeeper,  "  you  are  both 
most  welcome.  I  only  regret  that  my  master  is  not 
at  home  to  receive  you.  He  would  spare  nothing  to 
entertain  you,  as  you  appear  to  deserve ;  but  in  his 
absence  I  will  take  upon  me  to  perform  his  part  in 
the  best  manner  I  am  able." 

She  then  conducted  the  lady  into  a  fine  chamber, 
with  a  noble  bed  in  it,  the  furniture  of  which  was 
but  half  finished,  that  the  old  man  might  have  no 
cause  of  suspicion.  Everything  being  in  readiness, 
such  as  perfumed  sheets,  soft  pillows,  and  a  satin- 
pinked  quilt,  the  lady  was  soon  put  to  bed,  still  com- 
plaining of  the  obstinacy  of  her  disorder.  The  house- 
keeper and  the  duenna,  equally  disposed  to  good 
works,  heated  some  flannels,  which,  as  fast  as  they 
were  brought  to  the  invalid,  she  slid  down  with  her 
foot  to  the  bottom  of  the  bed.  Had  she  not  done 
this,  she  would  undoubtedly  have  been  so  incom- 
moded that  the  heat  would  have  given  her  the 
vapours.  She  was  obliged  also  to  take  a  good 
draught  of  mulled  wine,  which  she  could  well  have 
dispensed  with ;  so  that  to  prevent  the  possibility  of 
any  other  remedy  still  more  disagreeable,  she  declared 
that  she  felt  relieved,  and  that  if  she  were  left  alone 
for  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  she  doubted  not  that  she 


102  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

should  be  by  tbat  time  perfectly  well  again.  The 
good  old  man  was  very  glad  to  find  that  she  felt  an 
inclination  to  take  some  rest,  which  he  considered  as 
a  certain  indication  that  she  was  getting  better.  He 
left  the  room  therefore  immediately,  not  forgetting 
to  lock  the  door  after  him,  and  to  desire  the  servants 
to  make  no  noise,  leaving  the  duenna  only  with  the 
sick  lady.  He  went  himself  to  take  a  turn  in  the 
garden,  waiting  impatiently  for  the  happy  moment 
when  he  should  be  summoned  to  attend  his  dear 
mistress  again,  quite  recovered  of  her  cholic. 

I  fancy  I  need  not  inform  you  that  my  father  was 
all  this  time  in  the  house;  and,  indeed,  if  my  infor- 
mation has  been  correct,  it  was  to  the  interview  which 
on  this  occasion  took  place  between  the  lovers  that  I 
am  indebted  for  my  being. 

The  sun  by  this  time  became  rather  too  powerful 
in  the  garden,  in  spite  of  the  shade  of  the  groves  and 
the  coolness  of  the  fountain.  The  old  knight  being 
now  tired,  and  besides  quite  uneasy  to  know  how  his 
nymph  did,  resolved  to  leave  the  garden,  and  returned 
with  a  slow  pace  towards  the  house.  The  lady,  whom 
I  shall  in  future  call  my  mother,  pretended  to  be  still 
fast  asleep  when  the  old  man  entered  her  chamber, 
and  as  if  the  noise  that  he  made  in  coming  in  awoke 
her,  she  complained  that  he  had  not  the  complaisance 
even  to  allow  her  to  rest  herself  for  a  quarter  of  an 
hour.  "  A  quarter  of  an  hour,"  cried  he.  "  I  swear 
by  your  lovely  eyes,  my  darling,  that  you  have  been 
asleep  here  for  at  least  two  hours."  "No,  no," 
replied  she,  "  I  am  convinced  it  cannot  be  half  an 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.     103 

hour,  for  it  seemed  to  me  that  I  was  just  dozing  off". 
However  it  may  be,"  added  she,  "  I  feel  that  I  never 
had  more  need  of  rest  than  at  this  moment."  She 
put  on  a  cheerful  countenance,  however,  and  assured 
the  old  knight  that  she  felt  herself  much  better,  which 
he  was  exceedingly  glad  to  hear;  and  finding  that  the 
heat  had  become  so  excessive  that  they  could  not 
venture  out  on  their  journey  again,  he  proposed  to 
his  faithful  mistress  to  pass  the  remainder  of  the  day 
where  she  was,  and  where  they  had  met  with  so  much 
more  attention  than  they  could  have  anticipated.  She 
consented,  provided  that  the  people  of  the  house 
would  but  allow  of  it;  and  so  the  old  cavalier  asked 
the  housekeeper's  permission,  who  told  him  that  he 
was  perfectly  at  liberty  to  make  himself  quite  at 
home  in  that  house,  and  that  so  far  from  being  dis- 
pleased, her  master  would  be  proud  of  such  a  favour. 
Having  then  resolved  to  stay,  they  despatched  one  of 
their  servants,  to  the  house  at  Gelvas,  to  desire  the 
other  servants,  who  were  already  there,  to  repair  to 
them  with  a  stock  of  provisions. 

Whilst  the  knight  was  issuing  these  orders,  my 
father  stole  out  of  the  house,  got  on  horseback,  and 
returned  to  Seville,  merely  to  show  himself  upon 
'Change,  and  to  come  back  to  sleep  as  usual  at  St. 
Juan  d'Alfarache.  The  time  appeared  to  pass  but 
slowly  to  him ;  but  as  he  had  no  reason  to  complain 
of  his  day's  work,  he  made  more  than  usual  haste  to 
set  out  on  his  return  home  again,  where  he  arrived 
about  six  o'clock.  His  old  rival  hastened  out  to 
meet  him,  apologising  and  requesting  to  be  excused 


104  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

for  the  liberty  he  had  taken.  Compliments  passed 
on  both  sides,  but  more  particularly  on  that  of  my 
father,  whose  fine  speeches  and  polished  manners, 
though  they  cost  him  nothing,  entirely  won  the  old 
man's  heart,  insomuch  that  he  himself  conducted  him 
to  his  lady,  who  had  just  entered  the  garden  to  enjoy 
the  air,  the  excessive  heat  having  considerably  gone 
off.  The  merchant  saluted  her  as  if  she  was  entirely 
unknown  to  him,  and  she  received  him  with  as  much 
dissimulation  as  if  she  had  never  in  her  life  seen  him 
before. 

It  not  being  yet  the  proper  time  to  walk,  the  party 
entered  a  small  arbour,  which  was  the  more  refresh- 
ing as  it  was  situated  on  the  bank  of  the  river.  They 
began  to  play  at  primero  and  the  lady  won,  my  father 
being  too  gallant  a  man  not  to  allow  himself  to  lose 
in  such  a  case.  After  the  game  they  took  a  turn 
round  the  walks,  which  was  followed  by  a  good 
supper,  which  lasted  so  long  that  they  no  sooner  rose 
from  table  than  they  were  obliged  to  return  to  Seville 
by  water,  in  a  small  barge  which  my  father  had 
caused  to  be  set  off  with  green  boughs  and  flowers 
for  that  purpose.  To  complete  their  entertainment, 
they  heard  concerts  of  music  performed  by  some 
persons  that  sung  and  played  on  several  instruments 
in  a  small  boat,  which  immediately  followed  theirs 
down  the  river  Guadalquiver.  At  last,  the  lady  and 
her  old  gallant,  after  having  been  most  agreeably 
entertained,  returned  hearty  thanks  to  my  father  for 
his  handsome  reception  of  them,  which  had  such  an 
effect  on  the  old  knight  that  he  thought  he  nevef 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.     105 

could  make  sufficient  acknowledgments  for  it;  and 
so  great  was  the  friendship  he  conceived  for  my 
father,  that  I  do  not  think  he  could  have  made  up 
his  mind  to  leave  him  so  soon  without  the  promise 
of  seeing  him  again  the  next  day. 

This  friendship  was  so  well  managed  by  the  lady 
and  my  father  that  it  lasted  during  the  life  of  the  old 
knight,  who  in  truth  did  not  live  much  longer.  He 
was  a  worn-out  rake,  an  old  sinner,  who  had  given 
himself  up  entirely  to  pleasure,  without  the  least  fear 
of  the  other  world,  or  regard  to  what  might  be  said 
of  him  in  this.  I  was  already  four  years  old  when 
he  died,  but  was  not  his  only  heir.  The  good  man 
had  several  other  children  by  other  mistresses,  and 
we  lived  in  his  house  like  tithe-loaves,  every  one  of  a 
different  oven.  Perhaps,  if  the  truth  was  known,  he 
was  no  more  their  father  than  he  was  mine;  but 
however  that  might  be,  as  I  was  the  youngest,  and 
from  the  tenderness  of  my  age  not  so  well  able  to 
help  myself  as  my  brothers,  I  should  have  come  but 
badly  off  among  them  had  I  not  in  my  mother  a 
person  well  able  take  my  part.  In  short,  she  was  a 
woman  of  Andalusia.  She  did  not  wait  till  the  old 
man  was  dead  to  feather  her  nest;  for  no  sooner  was 
he  given  over  by  his  physicians  than,  having  all  the 
keys,  and  being  mistress  of  the  house,  she  took  pos- 
session of  everything  worth  carrying  away,  leaving 
nothing  but  rags  for  his  next  of  kin.  Even  the  very 
day  that  he  died  his  house  was  laid  waste  in  a  deplor- 
able manner;  while  he  was  gasping  for  life  he  lost 
even  the  sheets  from  his  bed  j  and  everything  of  value 


106  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

was  spirited  away  before  the  breath  was  out  of  his 
body.  Nothing  but  the  four  walls  were  left  standing 
when  his  kindred  came  about  him,  big  with  expecta- 
tion. In  vain  they  examined  everything;  it  was  very 
evident  that  some  one  had  been  there  before  them, 
and  they  found  themselves  obliged  to  be  at  the 
expense  of  his  funeral  for  the  honour  of  the  family. 
They  behaved,  however,  as  well  as  they  could  with- 
out shedding  many  tears  on  the  occasion ;  but  who 
ever  mourns  much  for  a  person  that  leaves  nothing  ? 
It  is  for  heirs  only  who  are  well  paid  for  it  to  appear 
to  be  afflicted. 

The  kindred  of  the  deceased  had  made  sure  of 
succeeding  to  a  considerable  property.  They  could 
not  possibly  conceive  how  a  man  who  enjoyed 
fifteen  thousand  livres  a-year  in  church  revenues 
could  die  so  miserably  poor.  They  knew  that  his 
house  had  been  nobly  furnished,  and  could  not 
doubt  that  he  had  been  robbed  of  his  effects.  In 
vain  did  they  make  every  possible  inquiry;  in  vain 
did  they  cause  monitory  letters  to  be  affixed  to  dif- 
ferent church  doors.  Thieves  never  refund  what 
they  have  made  off  with,  though  under  the  dread  of 
being  excommunicated.  After  all,  my  mother  had 
good  reasons  for  quietly  taking  possession  of  the  old 
gentleman's  property ;  for,  a  short  time  prior  to  his 
death,  when  he  had  occasion  to  go  tc  his  strong  box, 
or  to  inspect  his  jewels,  or  had  by  chance  bought 
some  curious  piece  of  furniture,  he  would  say  to  my 
mother,  "  Have  but  patience,  my  dearest,  this  is  all 
for  thee.""  Besides,  if  she  had  any  scruple  on  her 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      107 

conscience  after  this,  which  she  considered  as  no  less 
than  a  gift  in  form,  you  must  needs  acknowledge 
that  she  well  deserved  her  inheritance,  for  having 
contented  herself  for  several  years  with  so  disagree- 
able an  old  bedfellow;  added  to  which,  the  divines 
whom  she  consulted  on  the  occasion  completely  ac- 
quitted her,  with  an  assurance  that  she  had  taken 
nothing  but  what  was  undoubtedly  her  due. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

GUZMAN'S  FATHER  GETS  MARRIED,  AND  DIES:  WHAI 
FOLLOWED  HIS  DEATH. 

AFTER  the  old  knight's  death,  to  whom  God  bt 
merciful,  his  chaste  widow  quickly  found  another 
gallant,  and  I  another  father,  in  the  person  of  the 
Genoese.  My  mother  was  cunning  enough  to  per- 
suade them  both  that  I  was  their  son,  telling  the 
one  that  I  was  his  living  picture,  and  at  another 
time  assuring  the  other  that  two  eggs  could  not 
be  more  alike.  Happily  for  me,  whether  I  owe  my 
existence  to  the  old  knight  or  to  the  young  Genoese, 
I  certainly  was  born  a  gentleman.  On  my  mother's 
side  my  nobility  cannot  be  disputed.  I  have  a  hundred 
times  heard  her  say  that  my  grandmother,  who 
prided  herself  as  much  as  my  mother  upon  her 
chastity,  reckoned,  in  the  number  of  her  relations, 
so  many  illustrious  persons  that  you  might  make  a 


io8  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

tree  of  their  genealogies  as  large  as  that  of  the  house 
of  Toledo. 

It  is,  nevertheless,  possible  that  my  discreet  mother 
might  have  had  a  third  gallant  in  some  commoner, 
for  she  that  deceives  one  man  is  very  capable  of 
deceiving  two;  but  whether  it  was  instinct,  or  that 
I  confided  in  my  mother's  assurance,  I  always  looked 
upon  the  noble  Genoese  as  my  father,  and  I  can 
assure  you  that,  whether  he  actually  was  my  father 
or  not,  he  loved  both  my  mother  and  me  most 
tenderly ;  which  he  made  sufficiently  appear  after- 
wards, as  regarded  her,  by  the  bold  step  he  ventured 
to  take  in  marrying  her.  He  knew  very  well 
what  reputation  she  had,  and  that  he  should  be 
pointed  at  in  the  city,  where  my  mother  was  well 
known  by  the  name  of  the  knight's  lady.  But  what 
did  he  care  for  that  ?  he  knew  very  well  what  he  did ; 
for  at  the  commencement  of  their  acquaintance  his 
affairs  were  on  the  decline,  and  the  continuation  of  it 
did  not,  by  any  means,  tend  to  ameliorate  them ; 
while  the  lady,  who  had  at  least  as  much  knavery 
about  her  as  good  management,  had  dispensed  her 
favours  to  so  good  an  account,  that  she  was  now 
mistress  of  at  least  ten  thousand  ducats,  which  sum 
was  the  means  of  saving  my  father  from  another 
stoppage  he  was  on  the  point  of  making,  and  enabled 
him  to  make  as  good  a  figure  as  ever  among  the  mer- 
chants. He  was,  unfortunately,  passionately  fond  of 
company,  splendour,  and  show ;  but  as  he  could  not 
long  satisfy  this  ruling  passion  without  plunging 
himself  into  the  same  difficulties  again,  from  which 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  &ALFARACHE.     109 

my  mother's  money  had  but  just  extricated  him,  he 
found  himself,  a  few  years  after  his  marriage,  obliged 
to  become  bankrupt  again  for  the  last  time;  I  say 
the  last  time,  because,  finding  himself  without  re- 
source, and  utterly  unable  to  keep  up  his  former 
equipage  and  appearance,  he  chose  rather  to  die  with 
chagrin  than  to  survive  the  date  of  his  prosperity. 

Life  had  more  charms  for  my  mother,  who  bore 
my  father's  loss  with  considerable  fortitude,  though 
she  was  much  afflicted  at  his  death.  Our  houses 
were  obliged  to  be  given  up  to  his  creditors.  We 
had  now  only  a  few  jewels  left,  besides  the  furniture, 
which  my  mother  turned  into  money,  and  retired  to 
a  small  house  where  she  determined  to  live  in  a 
private  manner  as  well  as  she  could.  She  did  not 
take  this  step  on  account  of  her  inability  to  main- 
tain us  by  fresh  intrigues;  for,  although  she  was 
already  in  her  fortieth  year,  she  had  always  taken 
such  good  care  of  herself,  that  even  at  this  time  of 
life  she  was  not  a  conquest  to  be  despised;  but  as 
she  could  not  make  up  her  mind  to  make  the  first 
advances  to  men  who  had  formerly  sought  her 
favours  with  ardour,  this  noble  feeling  of  pride  so 
ill  accorded  with  the  situation  of  our  domestic  affairs, 
that  they  daily  grew  worse  and  worse. 

I  doubt  not  that  my  mother  has  a  thousand  times 
wished  she  had  had  a  girl  instead  of  me,  which  would, 
undoubtedly,  have  been  much  more  to  her  advan- 
tage, and  who  might  have  been  a  support  to  her,  as 
she  herself  was  to  my  grandmother,  of  whom  I  feel 
it  incumbent  on  me  to  afford  you  a  more  detailed 


I  lo  MATEO  ALE  MAX. 

account.  She  was  one  of  the  finest  women  of  her 
time  in  the  kingdom,  was  extremely  witty  and  well- 
bred.  None  but  young  noblemen  were  admitted 
into  her  house,  such  as  wished  to  improve  them- 
selves in  politeness  and  gallantry,  and  they  certainly 
might  be  said  to  be  fine  gentlemen  after  having  gone 
through  her  course  of  lessons  for  a  few  years.  But 
what  is  most  to  be  wondered  at,  is  the  perfect  har- 
mony that  reigned  among  her  scholars.  While  she 
had  given  her  mind  up  to  perfect  these  young  folks, 
she  lay  in  with  my  mother  somehow  or  other ;  and,  as 
she  herself  scarcely  knew  how  this  happened,  she  gave 
every  one  of  these  gentlemen  the  honour  of  it  sepa- 
rately, satisfying  each  of  them  that  her  daughter 
resembled  him  in  some  particular.  "  Do  but  look  at 
her  mouth,"  would  she  say  to  one  ;  "  observe  but  her 
eyes,"  would  she  say  to  another;  "  you  cannot  pre- 
tend to  disown  this  child;"  and  the  more  to  induce 
them  to  believe  her,  she  took  great  pains  always  to 
call  her  by  the  name  of  the  cavalier  who  was  pre- 
sent; and  if  there  happened  to  be  more  than  one, 
which  was  not  uncommonly  the  case,  she  was  called 
Donna  Marcella,  which  was  her  Christian  name;  as 
for  the  Donna,  it  would  be  unjust,  indeed,  to  dispute 
her  right  to  that  title,  since  she,  without  doubt,  was 
the  daughter  of  a  person  of  quality.  But  to  let  you 
a  little  more  into  the  secret  of  her  birth,  you  must 
know  that  among  my  grandmother's  gallants  there 
was  one  whom  she  loved  best  of  any;  and  as  this 
gentleman  was  a  Guzman,  she  considered  that  she 
might  conscientiously  make  her  daughter  descend 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.     in 

from  so  illustrious  a  house.  At  least  this  is  what  she 
afterwards  told  my  mother  in  confidence,  though  she 
confessed  at  the  same  time  that,  for  ought  she  knew, 
she  might  have  been  begot  by  a  certain  lord,  who  was 
a  near  relation  to  the  dukes  of  Medina  Sidonia. 

From  what  I  have  now  told  you  respecting  my 
grandmother,  you  will  perceive  that  she  was  scarcely 
to  be  matched  in  love  intrigues  j  nevertheless,  as  she 
was  a  very  extravagant  woman  and  never  so  much 
as  thought  of  laying  by  the  profit  of  her  favours,  she 
must  inevitably  have  been  reduced  to  indigence  in  her 
old  age,  had  not  her  daughter's  beauty  began  to  shine 
forth  in  proportion  as  her  own  faded  and  declined. 
The  good  old  lady  was  very  impatient  until  the  little 
Marcella  was  sufficiently  grown  and  well-shaped  to 
think  of  settling  her;  and  finding  that  at  twelve  years 
old  she  was  very  forward  for  her  age,  she  no  longer 
delayed  endeavouring  to  provide  for  her.  A  mer- 
chant newly  arrived  from  Peru,  and  richer  than  a 
Jew,  enjoyed  her  first  favours,  through  the  assist- 
ance of  four  thousand  ducats,  which  he  presented  to 
my  grandmother ;  and  finding  a  successor  as  generous 
as  the  merchant,  for  every  day  in  the  week,  she  lived 
in  plenty,  by  that  means,  for  the  remaining  part  of 
her  life. ' 

A  daughter  in  my  stead  would  certainly  then 
have  been  better  for  my  mother,  or  even  had  she  had 
us  both  my  sister  would  have  been  a  harbour  for  us  in 
our  present  wreck,  and  we  should  soon  have  made  a 
good  fortune  at  Seville,  where  purchasers  are  always 
sure  to  be  found  for  every  sort  of  commodity.  It  is 


112  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

the  common  retreat  of  persons  who  have  only  their 
wits  to  live  on;  it  serves  as  the  mother  to  orphans 
and  a  cloak  to  sinners.  At  all  events,  if  that  city 
were  not  sufficient,  we  could  have  proceeded  to 
Madrid,  where  such  a  jewel  is  always  saleable.  If, 
at  first,  we  were  not  able  to  dispose  of  it  for  a  per- 
manency, there  we  could,  at  least,  put  it  in  pledge  to 
so  good  an  account  as  always  to  live  in  plenty.  If 
I  am  not  more  awkward  than  another  man,  I  think 
that  having  a  pretty  sister  I  could  have  managed  to 
obtain  some  good  preferment;  but  Heaven  ordained 
it  otherwise,  and  made  me  an  only  son  for  my  sins. 

I  had  just  entered  my  fourteenth  year,  and  as  I 
could  not  look  without  pain  on  the  misery  with 
which  we  were  threatened,  I  resolved  to  leave  my 
mother  and  my  country  and  to  seek  my  fortune 
elsewhere.  My  wish  to  travel  was  for  the  purpose 
of  seeing  and  knowing  a  little  of  the  world,  and  I 
always  had  a  particular  desire  to  visit  my  father'* 
relations  at  Genoa.  So  that,  not  being  able  any 
longer  to  defer  the  execution  of  my  design,  I  left 
Seville  on  a  beautiful  day,  with  my  purse  almost  as 
destitute  of  money  as  my  head  wa*  crammed  with 
idle  fancies  and  chimeras. 


CHAPTER  V. 

GUZMAN  SETS  OUT  FROM  SEVILLE.      HIS  FIRST 
ADVENTURE   AT  AN  INN. 

As  I  remembered  to  have  heard  said  that  it  was 
usual  with  such  as  have  to  seek  their  fortunes  to 
give  themselves  names  of  consequence,  without 
which  they  would  pass  for  nobody  in  strange  coun- 
tries, I  took  my  mother's  name,  which  was  Guzman, 
and  added  to  it  d'Alfarache.  This  appeared  to  me 
so  well  imagined,  that  I  felt  fully  persuaded  in  my 
own  imagination  that  I  was  already  nothing  less  than 
the  illustrious  Don  Guzman  d'Alfarache. 

This  newly-created  signor,  not  having  set  out  until 
late  in  the  afternoon,  went  but  a  short  distance  the 
first  day,  though  he  made  what  haste  he  could  for 
fear  of  being  pursued.  In  fact  I  went  no  farther 
than  the  chapel  of  St.  Lazarus,  which  is  but  a  short 
way  from  the  city.  Being  already  fatigued  I  sat 
down  on  the  steps  rather  sorrowfully,  beginning  to 
feel  some  anxiety  as  to  what  would  become  of  me. 
After  having  sat  there  thinking  for  some  time,  a 
religious  idea  came  across  my  mind,  which  I  imme- 
diately gratified  by  entering  the  chapel,  where  I 
addressed  myself  to  God,  beseeching  Him  to  inspire 
me  with  His  counsels.  My  prayer  was  fervent,  but 

VOL.  i.  H 


H4  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

short,  the  time  not  allowing  me  to  make  it  longer, 
for  it  was  just  the  hour  for  closing  the  chapel,  which 
I  was  therefore  obliged  to  quit,  and  I  was  left  on  the 
steps  again,  where  I  remained  not  without  fear  of 
what  might  happen  to  me. 

Represent  to  yourself  at  the  door  of  this  chapel  a 
child  who  had  been  accustomed  to  every  indulgence 
and  maintained  in  plenty.  Consider  that  I  knew 
not  where  to  go,  nor  what  to  decide  on.  There  wai 
no  inn  near  to  the  place,  though  my  appetite  in- 
formed me  that  it  was  quite  supper-time.  There 
was  certainly  plenty  of  clear  water  running  within 
a  few  paces  of  me,  but  this  was  a  cheerless  prospect. 
I  began  now  to  find  the  difference  between  a  hungry 
man  and  one  who  has  his  belly  full ;  between  a  man 
who  is  accustomed  to  a  table  covered  with  good 
victuals,  and  one  who  has  not  a  morsel  of  bread  to 
eat.  Not  knowing  what  to  do  with  myself,  nor  at 
what  door  to  venture  to  rap,  I  made  up  my  mind  to 
pass  the  night  where  I  was.  I  laid  myself  down 
therefore  at  full  length,  covering  my  face  with  my 
cloak  as  well  as  I  was  able,  not  without  fear  of  being 
devoured  by  wolves,  which  I  sometimes  fancied  I 
heard  not  far  from  me.  Sleep,  however,  at  last  sus- 
pended my  uneasiness,  and  took  so  fast  possession  of 
my  senses  that  the  sun  had  been  up  two  hours  be- 
fore I  awoke,  and  which  perhaps  I  had  not  done  then 
but  for  the  noise  of  tambours,  made  by  a  number  of 
country  wenches  who  passed  me  singing  and  dancing 
along  the  road  on  their  way  to  some  festival.  I  rose 
quickly,  and  perceiving  several  ways  equally  unknown 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      115 

to  me,  I  chose  the  pleasantest,  saying,  "  May  this 
road,  which  I  take  by  chance,  conduct  me  in  a 
straight  line  to  the  temple  of  fortune."  I  was  like 
that  ignorant  quack  of  la  Mancha,  who  generally 
carried  about  with  him  a  bag  full  of  prescriptions,  and 
when  he  visited  any  sick  person  put  his  hand  in  at 
random,  giving  the  first  that  came  uppermost,  say- 
ing, "  God  grant  it  may  do  thee  good !  "  My  feet  per- 
formed the  office  of  my  head,  and  I  followed  them 
without  knowing  whither  they  led  me. 

I  walked  two  leagues  that  morning,  which  was 
not  a  short  distance  for  a  lad  to  do  who  had  never 
travelled  so  far  in  his  life  before.  I  believed  myself 
already  arrived  at  the  Antipodes,  and  that  I  had  dis- 
covered another  world,  like  the  famous  Christopher 
Columbus.  This  new  world,  however,  was  nothing 
but  a  miserable  tavern,  which  I  entered  all  in  a 
perspiration,  covered  with  dust,  and  dying  with 
fatigue  and  hunger.  I  asked  for  dinner,  and  was 
informed  that  there  was  nothing  but  fresh  eggs  in  the 
house.  "Fresh  eggs!"  cried  I;  "well,  I  must  be 
content;  make  haste,  then,  and  prepare  me  an  omelet 
of  about  half  a  dozen."  The  hostess,  who  was  a 
frightful  old  woman,  began  to  examine  me  with 
attention,  and  seeing  that  I  was  a  raw,  herring- 
gutted  looking  lad,  and  very  hungry,  she  thought 
she  might  safely  venture  to  pass  upon  me  for  fresh 
some  eggs  which  were  about  half  hatched.  With 
this  opinion  she  came  up  to  me,  and  laughing  in  my 
face  with  as  pleasant  an  air  as  she  could  affect,  she 
asked  me  whence  I  came.  I  told  her  from  Seville, 


Ii6  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

and  entreated  her  afresh  to  let  me  have  the  eggs ;  but 
before  she  did  what  I  desired  she  thrust  her  nasty 
hand  under  my  chin,  saying,  "And  where  is  my 
little  wag  of  Seville  going  ?  "  At  the  same  time  she 
wished  to  kiss  me;  but  I  turned  quickly  round  to 
avoid  this  felicity.  I  was  not,  however,  so  quick  as 
entirely  to  escape  her  stinking  breath,  the  fumes  of 
which  made  me  fear  it  would  have  communicated 
her  age  and  distempers  to  me ;  fortunately,  I  had 
nothing  but  wind  on  my  stomach,  or  I  should  cer- 
tainly have  vomited  over  her,  as  the  only  return  I 
could  make  her  for  such  a  compliment. 

I  told  her  I  was  going  to  Court,  and  entreated  her 
again  to  bt  me  have  something  to  eat.  She  then 
made  me  sit  down  on  a  broken  stool,  before  a  stone 
table,  on  which  she  laid  a  napkin,  which  looked  as  if 
it  had  but  newly  cleaned  the  oven.  On  this  she 
placed  fora  salt-cellar  the  bottom  of  a  broken  earthen 
pot,  and  some  water  in  a  vessel  of  the  same  ware, 
out  of  which  her  fowls  generally  drank,  together 
with  a  coarse  piece  of  cake,  as  black  as  the  before- 
mentioned  table-cloth.  After  making  me  wait 
about  a  quarter  of  an  hour  longer,  she  served  up,  on 
a  filthy  platter,  an  omelet,  or  what  might  more  pro- 
perly have  been  termed  an  egg  poultice.  The  ome- 
let, plate,  bread,  drinking-pot,  salt-cellar,  salt,  nap- 
kin, and  hostess  appeared  to  be  precisely  of  the  same 
colour.  My  stomach  ought  to  have  revolted  against 
such  disgusting  appearances;  but,  independent  of 
my  being  a  young  traveller,  I  had  fasted  so  long 
that  my  bowels  reproached  me  most  violently  with 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      117 

their  unkind  usage;  so  that,  notwithstanding  the 
uncleanly  arrangements  on  the  table  and  the  bad 
seasoning  of  the  eggs,  I  attacked  the  omelet  as  hogs 
do  acorns.  I  felt  indeed  something  grate  between 
my  teeth,  which  ought  to  have  made  me  suspect 
that  all  was  not  right,  but  I  took  no  notice  of  it; 
but  when  I  had  got  to  the  few  last  mouthfuls,  I 
could  not  help  thinking  that  this  omelet  had  not 
exactly  the  same  taste  as  those  I  had  eaten  at  my 
mother's  house ;  but  this  I  good-naturedly  attributed 
to  the  difference  of  the  country,  imagining  that  eggs 
were  not  in  all  places  equally  good,  as  if  I  had  been 
five  hundred  leagues  from  home.  After  I  had  de- 
molished this  excellent  dish,  I  felt  myself  so  much 
better  than  I  was  before,  that  I  was  more  than 
usually  happy  in  having  got  so  good  a  meal,  so  true 
is  it  that  "  hunger  is  the  best  sauce." 

I  did  not  so  soon  get  through  the  bread,  it  being 
so  bad  that  I  was  obliged  to  eat  slowly,  or  I  should 
certainly  have  choked  myself  with  it.  I  began  with 
the  crust  and  ended  with  the  crumb,  which  indeed 
was  so  little  baked  that  it  was  little  better  than 
dough ;  notwithstanding  which,  however,  I  played 
my  part  very  creditably,  but  not  without  the  assist- 
ance of  the  wine,  which  was  delicious.  I  rose  from 
table  as  soon  as  I  had  finished  my  dinner,  paid  my 
hostess,  and  set  forward  on  my  journey  again  in 
good  spirits.  My  feet,  which  before  were  scarce  able 
to  bear  me,  seemed  now  to  have  completely  regained 
their  former  activity. 

I  had  already  got  about  a  league  from  the  inn, 


n8  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

when  what  I  had  eaten  beginning  to  digest,  seemed 
to  create  such  a  combustion  in  my  belly,  accompanied 
oy  such  a  rising  in  my  stomach,  that  I  began  to 
suspect  something.  I  had  not  forgotten  the  resist- 
ance that  my  teeth  had  met  with  in  getting  through 
the  eggs,  and  after  reflecting  what  it  could  lie  for 
some  time,  I  doubted  no  longer  that  my  omelet  had 
been  amphibious,  and  must  have  had  something  in  it 
that  should  not  have  been  there.  So  that,  not  being 
able  to  carry  such  a  burden  about  with  me  any 
onger,  I  was  obliged  to  stop  to  relieve  myself. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

GUZMAN  MEETS  WITH  A  MULETEER  AND  TWO  FRIARS  ; 
OF  THEIR  CONVERSATION;  AND  IN  WHAT  MANNER 
THE  MULETEER  AND  HE  WERE  REGALED  AT  AH 
INN  AT  CANTILLANA. 

I  REMAINED  for  some  time  leaning  against  the  wall 
of  a  vineyard,  very  pale  and  much  weakened  by  the 
retchings  that  I  was  making.  A  muleteer  passed  by 
with  some  unladen  mules ;  he  stopped  to  look  at  me, 
and  seeing  me  in  such  a  condition,  asked  what  ailed 
me.  I  told  him  what  had  happened  to  me,  but  no 
sooner  had  I  said  that  I  imputed  my  illness  to  the 
omelet  that  I  had  eaten  at  the  inn,  than  he  began  to 
laugh  so  violently  that,  if  he  had  not  held  himself 
fast  on  his  mule  with  both  hands,  he  must  infallibly 
have  fallen  to  the  ground. 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      119 

When  one  is  afflicted  it  is  by  no  means  agreeable 
to  be  laughed  at.  My  face,  which  just  before  was  as 
pale  as  death,  became  as  red  as  fire  in  an  instant,  and 
I  looked  with  so  ill  an  eye  upon  this  rascal  as 
sufficiently  gave  him  to  understand  that  I  was  far 
from  being  pleased  at  his  behaviour;  but  this  only 
made  him  laugh  the  more,  so  that,  perceiving  that 
the  more  I  vexed  myself  the  more  he  laughed,  I 
allowed  him  to  go  on  until  he  was  completely- 
exhausted  ;  besides,  I  had  neither  sword  nor  stick, 
and  at  fisticuffs  I  should  have  fared  but  badly;  I 
was,  therefore,  prudent  enough  to  speak  him  fair. 
A  wise  man,  however  much  he  may  be  offended, 
never  sets  up  for  a  bravo  when  the  party  is  too  strong 
against  him ;  besides,  I  did  not  think  fit  to  disoblige 
my  man  for  the  sake  of  his  mules.  I  could  not, 
however,  entirely  refrain  from  mentioning  it  to  him. 
"  Well,  my  friend,"  said  I,  "  and  why  all  this  violent 
mirth?  does  my  nose  stand  awry?"  But  the  only 
answer  I  could  obtain  to  these  questions  was  a 
renewal  of  his  immoderate  laughter. 

It  pleased  God,  however,  that  he  at  length  gave 
over;  and  recovering  himself  by  degrees,  he  said 
to  me,  gasping  for  breath  all  the  while,  **  It  is 
not  at  your  adventure,  my  little  gentleman,  that  I 
laugh,  for  it  is  certainly  very  unfortunate  for  you ; 
but  your  relating  it  reminded  me  of  another  which 
has  just  happened  to  that  same  old  hag  that  treated 
you  so  ill.  Two  soldL-rs  whom  she  regaled  in  the 
game  manner  have  sufficiently  revenged  you  all 
three.  As  we  are  going  the  same  way,"  added  he, 


120  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

"jump  up  on  one  of  my  mules,  and  I  will  tell  you 
the  story  as  we  ride  along."  Without  waiting  to  be 
twice  asked  I  mounted  one  of  his  beasts,  and  was 
ready  to  hear  what  he  had  to  tell  me  respecting  these 
two  soldiers,  whom  1  recollected  to  have  met  enter- 
ing the  inn  just  as  I  left  it. 

"  These  two  wags,"  said  he,  "  asked  the  hostess 
what  she  had  to  give  them.  She  told  them  in  the 
same  manner  as  she  did  you  that  she  had  nothing 
but  eggs ;  they  bade  her  make  ready  an  omelet,  which 
the  old  woman  soon  brought  them,  but  in  cutting  it 
their  knives  found  resistance  from  something  which 
they  proceeded  to  examine  with  attention,  and  dis- 
covered three  small  lumps,  much  resembling  the  heads 
of  unformed  chickens,  whose  beaks  were  already  so 
hard  as  plainly  to  show  what  they  were.  The  soldiers, 
after  having  made  so  rare  a  discovery,  without  taking 
any  notice  of  it,  covered  the  omelet  with  a  plate  and 
asked  the  hostess  if  she  had  nothing  else  she  could 
give  them ;  she  proposed  to  broil  them  two  or  three 
slices  of  shadfish,  which  they  accepted  and  soon  de- 
spatched with  the  assistance  of  white  sauce;  after 
which  one  of  these  rogues  going  up  to  the  old  woman, 
as  if  for  the  purpose  of  paying  the  reckoning,  with 
the  omelet  concealed  in  his  hand,  clapped  it  full  in 
her  face,  and  so  completely  rubbed  it  all  over  her 
eyes  and  nose  that  she  bawled  out  for  help  most 
lustily,  whereupon  the  other  soldier,  seeming  to  blame 
his  comrade  and  pity  the  poor  old  woman,  ran  up  to 
her  under  the  pretence  of  consoling  her,  and  stroked 
her  over  the  face  with  his  hards  all  bedaubed  with 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      121 

soot.  This  done  they  both  left  the  house,  still  con- 
tinuing to  abuse  your  old  acquaintance,  who  got  no 
other  payment  for  her  entertainment.  I  assure  you," 
said  the  muleteer,  "  it  was  a  high  treat  to  see  mine 
hostess  in  this  delicate  condition,  with  the  agreeable 
distortions  of  countenance  that  she  made,  crying  and 
laughing  at  the  same  moment." 

The  recital  of  this  ridiculous  story  somewhat  con- 
soled me  for  my  own  adventure,  and  inclined  me  to 
forgive  the  laughter  of  the  muleteer,  who  did  not  fail 
to  set  to  again  as  soon  as  he  had  ended  his  narration. 
All  this  while  we  were  trotting  onwards;  we  over- 
took two  friars  who,  having  seen  us  from  afar  off, 
had  waited  till  we  came  up,  that  they  might  have  the 
benefit  of  the  mules.  They  quickly  agreed  with  the 
muleteer  to  carry  them  to  Cazalla,  whither  he  also 
was  going,  and  having  mounted  their  mules  we  con- 
tinued our  journey. 

The  muleteer  was  still  too  much  taken  up  with  the 
recollection  of  his  pleasure  at  the  inn  to  give  up  speak- 
ing of  it  so  soon.  He  could  not  resist  telling  us  that 
there  was  sufficient  in  that  adventure  to  serve  him  for 
laughter  for  the  remainder  of  his  days;  "and  I," 
cried  I,  interrupting  him  abruptly,  "shall  have  cause 
to  repent  all  my  life  that  I  did  not  serve  that  poisonous 
old  hag  even  worse  than  the  soldiers  did ;  but  she  is 
not  yet  dead,"  added  I, "  and  I  may  have  my  revenge 
still."  The  friars,  remarking  with  what  eagerness  I 
uttered  these  words,  were  curious  to  know  what  had 
been  the  occasion  of  it.  The  muleteer,  who  desired 
no  better  sport,  that  he  might  have  another  excuse 


122  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

for  a  good  hearty  laugh,  related  the  story  anew  to 
these  gentlemen,  and  in  the  course  of  .it  introduced 
my  misfortune  also,  which  was  no  small  mortification 
to  me. 

The  friars  condemned  exceedingly  the  conduct  of 
the  old  hostess,  and  blamed  my  resentment  no  less. 
"  My  son,"  said  the  elder  of  the  two  to  me,  "  you  are 
but  young;  hot  blood  carries  you  away  and  deprives 
you  of  the  use  of  your  reason ;  know  that  you  have 
sinned  as  much  in  having  regretted  that  you  have 
lost  the  opportunity  of  committing  a  crime  as  if  you 
had  really  committed  one."  The  holy  man  did  not 
finish  his  remonstrance  here,  but  held  a  long  discourse 
upon  anger  and  the  desire  of  revenge.  It  appeared 
to  me  so  like  a  sermon  that  I  was  persviaded  he  had 
preached  it  more  than  once,  and  that  he  was  glad  to 
have  the  opportunity  of  refreshing  his  memory  by 
repeating  it.  Certain  it  is  that  the  most  part  of 
what  he  addressed  to  me  was  far  above  my  compre- 
hension, as  well  as  that  of  our  muleteer,  who,  think- 
ing of  nothing  but  the  old  woman,  was  laughing  in 
his  sleeve  all  the  time  that  the  preacher  was  throwing 
away  his  time  upon  us.  At  length  we  arrived  at 
Cantillana,  where  the  two  friars  took  leave  of  us  until 
the  next  morning,  and  went  to  take  up  their  night's 
lodging  at  a  friend's  house. 

For  my  part  I  did  not  leave  the  muleteer,  who  told 
me  that  he  would  undertake  to  carry  me  to  one  of 
the  best  inns  in  the  town,  where  the  host  was  an 
excellent  cook,  and  where  I  need  not  be  afraid  of 
having  hatched  eggs  passed  upon  me.  This  assur« 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      123 

ance  pleased  me  exceedingly,  for  I  required  a  good 
meal  to  set  me  to  rights;  and  we  proceeded  to  the 
door  of  a  house  of  tolerable  good  appearance,  the 
master  of  which  received  us  with  great  civility.  This 
was  perhaps  the  completes!  knave  in  that  part  of  the 
country,  and  I  only  got  out  of  the  frying-pan  into 
the  fire,  as  the  saying  is.  The  muleteer  led  his  beasts 
to  the  stable,  where  he  remained  for  some  time  to 
provide  for  their  wants,  and  as  I  was  much  fatigued, 
the  soles  of  my  feet  being  much  swollen,  and  my 
thighs  feeling  as  if  they  were  broken  from  riding  three 
or  four  hours  without  stirrups,  I  laid  myself  down 
and  rested  until  the  muleteer  returned,  who  asked  me 
whether  I  was  not  ready  for  my  supper,  for  that  he 
had  resolved  to  set  out  next  morning  at  break  of  day 
that  he  might  reach  Cazalla  before  night,  and  should 
therefore  be  glad  to  get  to  bed  early.  I  answered 
that  there  was  nothing  would  give  me  greater  satis- 
faction than  to  sit  down  to  table,  provided  he  would 
assist  me  to  rise,  and  even  to  walk,  as  I  could  scarcely 
support  my  own  weight.  He  did  me  this  service  so 
readily  that  I  felt  much  obliged  to  him, 

We  then  called  the  landlord  and  told  him  that  we 
wished  for  a  good  supper.  "  Gentlemen,"  answered 
he,  "  I  have  such  excellent  provisions  in  the  house 
that  you  will  have  yourselves  only  to  blame  if  you  do 
not  fare  well,  for  you  have  only  to  say  what  you 
would  like."  This  answer  pleased  me  exceedingly, 
but  I  was  afraid  that  he  exaggerated,  for  I  fancied 
that  he  had  the  looks  of  a  rogue ;  no  matter,  said  I 
to  myself,  let  him  be  as  much  a  rogue  as  he  pleases 


124  MATEO  ALE  MAN. 

90  he  use  us  but  well ;  he  was  a  pleasant  sort  of  fellow, 
and  a  man  of  some  humour.  "  Will  you  allow  me," 
said  he,  "  to  dress  you  a  part  of  the  pluck  of  a  calf 
that  I  killed  yesterday  ?  I  will  make  you  a  ragout  ot 
it  fit  for  the  gods;  it  was  the  prettiest  little  calf," 
added  he,  taking  me  kindly  by  the  hand,  "  that  you 
perhaps  ever  saw.  I  was  extremely  mortified  that  I 
was  obliged  to  kill  it,  but  the  drought  of  the  season 
would  not  allow  me  to  keep  it."  We  begged  that  if 
our  supper  was  ready  he  would  let  us  have  it  quickly. 
"  It  is  not  only  ready  dressed,"  said  he,  "  but  well 
seasoned  also;"  upon  which  he  skipped  into  the 
kitchen,  and  returned  in  a  few  minutes  with  two 
plates,  in  one  of  which  was  a  salad,  and  in  the  other 
a  part  of  the  pluck  of  this  much-lamented  calf. 

My  companion  seemed  to  fancy  the  salad,  fof 
which  I  cared  but  little,  but  fell  on  the  pluck,  which 
looked  tolerably  good.  All  that  I  complained  of  was, 
that  there  was  but  very  little  of  it  for  two  such 
hungry  fellows;  for  no  sooner  had  I  touched  a  bit 
than  I  bolted  it  down,  and  I  was  so  hungry  that  I 
had  no  time  to  judge  of  what  I  was  eating.  The 
muleteer,  observing  from  the  manner  in  which  I  set 
to  that  I  should  soon  empty  the  plate,  quitted  his 
salad  that  he  might  at  all  events  dispute  the  last 
mouthfuls  with  me,  which  were  demolished  in  a 
moment.  We  called  for  another  plate,  but  our  pro- 
voking host  brought  us  less  than  before  to  sharpen 
our  appetites,  so  that  we  might  still  wish  for  more ; 
this  second  plate  therefore  amused  us  but  a  very 
short  time,  and  was  followed  by  a  third. 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      125 

Being  by  this  time,  however,  about  half  satisfied,  I 
found  myself  obliged  to  slacken  my  pace ;  neither  did 
I  think  it  so  good  as  before.  I  desired  our  host 
therefore  to  let  me  have  anything  else  that  he  might 
have  in  the  house ;  he  answered  that  if  we  pleased  he 
would  make  an  exquisite  ragout  of  the  calf  s  brains 
in  an  instant;  in  the  meantime  he  sent  us  up  an 
andouille  made  of  the  tripe  and  caul  of  the  same 
beast,  which  he  told  us  we  should  find  most  delicious 
eating;  but  I  could  not  entertain  so  favourable  an 
opinion  of  it  when  I  had  tasted  it,  for  it  savoured  so 
strongly  of  rotten  straw  that  I  was  fain  to  leave  it 
to  my  companion,  who  still  went  on  at  the  same 
rate,  and  demolished  the  whole  of  the  andouille  in  the 
twinkling  of  an  eye. 

At  length  the  ragout  of  brains  was  served  up, 
which  I  hoped  would  have  revived  my  appetite ;  it 
was  dressed  with  eggs,  so  that  it  was  a  kind  of  ome- 
let, which  the  impudent  muleteer  had  no  sooner 
noticed  than  he  set  up  another  of  his  hearty  laughs ; 
this  offended  me,  for  I  thought  that  he  wished  to  dis- 
gust me  with  this  omelet  by  putting  me  in  mind  of  the 
one  I  had  dined  off.  I  gave  him  to  understand  as 
much,  at  which  he  only  laughed  the  more,  which 
produced  a  pleasant  scene  enough ;  for  our  host,  who 
neither  knew  why  he  laughed  nor  why  I  was  so  angry, 
listened  to  us  attentively,  thinking  himself  concerned 
in  the  affair.  Not  feeling  his  conscience  quite  at  rest 
respecting  either  the  brains,  the  andouille,  or  the  other 
dish  with  which  he  had  regaled  us,  he  was  under  as 
much  apprehension  as  a  criminal  who  is  afraid  of 


126  MATEO  ALE  MAN. 

everything  he  hears;  and  his  fears  redoubled  when 
he  heard  me  threaten  the  muleteer  if  he  continued 
laughing  at  me  to  throw  the  brains  against  the  wall. 
Our  host  turned  pale  at  these  words,  thinking  that  we 
meant  to  accuse  him ;  but  wishing  to  appear  firm  and 
resolute,  he  came  up  to  us,  cocking  his  bonnet  with 
a  most  furious  look,  and  said,  "  Before  God,  gentle- 
men, I  will  not  submit  to  so  much  laughing;  I  do 
maintain,  and  ever  will  maintain,  it  to  be  good  calf's 
brains.  If  you  will  not  believe  me  I  can  produce 
evidence  to  prove  the  fact  of  more  than  a  hundred 
persons  who  saw  me  kill  the  calf." 

My  companion  and  I  were  not  a  little  surprised  at 
the  passion  of  a  man  whom  we  had  not  so  much  as 
thought  of.  The  muleteer  redoubled  his  laughter; 
and  I  could  not  refrain  from  following  his  example 
on  the  occasion  though  from  another  cause  I  felt  no 
great  inclination  for  it  at  that  time.  This  put  our 
host  completely  out  of  countenance,  who  doubting 
no  longer  that  we  had  detected  his  villany  became 
more  furious,  and  snatching  the  plate  rudely  from 
the  table,  "  You  may  go  laugh  and  eat  elsewhere," 
said  he,  "  for  I  will  no  longer  entertain  people  who 
make  a  jest  of  me  to  my  face;  you  have  only  to  pay 
me  therefore  and  leave  my  house ;  after  which  you 
have  my  permission  to  laugh  as  long  as  you  please." 

My  comrade,  who  was  still  hungry,  and  did  not  see 
the  plate  handed  off  without  regret,  finding  it  no  joke, 
said  to  the  host  in  a  voice  not  the  most  agreeable, 
"  What  ails  you,  friend  ?  has  any  one  been  asking  your 
age?  has  any  one  been  calling  you  chucklehead ? " 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      127 

"  Chucklehead  or  not,"  replied  our  host,  "  I  affirm  it  is 
a  most  excellent  calf's  head."  He  pronounced  these 
words  as  if  he  intended  to  thrash  usboth;  but  the  mule- 
teer, who  knew  him  better  than  I,  and  who  was  a  good 
match  for  him,  rose  from  the  table,  and  taking  upon 
himself  the  braggadocio  in  his  turn,  "  S'death !  "  cried 
he,  "  is  there  any  law  that  prescribes  how  much  a  man 
may  laugh  in  this  inn  ?  or  is  there  any  tax  laid  upon 
laughing?"  "I  never  said  that  there  was,"  replied 
the  host,  apparently  somewhat  more  mild.  "  I  only 
say  that  I  will  not  be  turned  into  ridicule  in  my  own 
house,  nor  be  made  to  pass  for  one  who  treats  his 
guests  ill."  "  Who  says  anything  of  ill-treatment?  " 
replied  the  muleteer ;  "  who  thinks  of  turning  you 
into  ridicule?  Be  quick  and  replace  the  ragout  of 
brains  on  the  table,  and  you  shall  soon  see  that  it  was 
not  that  we  laughed  at.  I  cannot  see,  however,  what 
objection  you  can  have  to  allow  persons  to  laugh  or 
cry  as  much  as  they  please  in  your  house  as  well  as 
elsewhere." 

The  muleteer's  speech  had  its  effect ;  the  delicious 
ragout  which  had  been  thus  torn  from  us  was  re- 
turned, and  we  were  all  very  friendly  again.  My 
companion  resumed  his  seat,  and  continuing  to 
address  himself  to  the  host,  "  Be  assured,"  said  he, 
"  that  had  I  been  laughing  at  you,  my  character  is 
such  that  I  should  not  have  concealed  the  cause  from 
you :  we  were  not  laughing  at  you ;  but  the  sort  of 
omelet  you  have  dressed  us  reminded  me  of  an  adven- 
ture my  little  comrade  here  had  to-day  in  an  inn 
where  he  dined."  If  the  muleteer  had  been  content 


128  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

to  stop  there,  I  should  have  got  well  off";  but  I  was 
obliged  to  listen  patiently  for  the  third  time  to  his 
relation  of  the  history  of  the  two  soldiers,  together 
with  my  adventure,  which  he  recited  to  our  host 
with  such  glee  that  he  seemed  never  to  be  in  his 
element  but  when  telling  that  story. 

Our  host  had  time  enough  to  recover  his  temper 
before  this  long  story  was  finished ;  and  judging  that 
he  had  been  alarmed  without  cause,  he  thought  proper 
to  commence  playing  another  character,  and  inter- 
rupted the  muleteer  every  moment  while  his  story 
was  tellinor,  by — "Holy  Virgin!  Great  God  of 
Heaven ! "  and  other  such  exclamations,  which  made 
the  house  to  ring  again,  and  which  were  accom- 
panied by  the  most  hypocritical  grimaces.  "  May 
God  punish,"  said  he,  when  the  muleteer  had  done 
speaking,  "  all  who  do  not  perform  their  duty  ! "  As 
his  duty  was  to  thieve,  and  he  could  not  be  accused 
of  neglecting  it,  he  did  not  appear  to  consider  himself 
at  all  concerned  in  this  imprecation.  After  this  he 
continued  silent  for  some  time,  walking  up  and  down 
the  room;  but  suddenly  breaking  forth  with  a 
thundering  voice,  "  How  is  it  possible,"  cried  he, 
"  that  the  earth  hath  not  yet  opened  itself  to  swallow 
up  that  house  and  the  wretched  woman  that  keeps 
it?  I  have  never  met  with  any  traveller  yet  but 
complained  both  of  her  and  her  provisions :  not  a 
passenger  goes  out  of  her  doors  but  curses  her,  and 
makes  oath  never  to  stop  at  her  inn  again.  If  the 
officers  of  justice,  whose  duty  it  is  to  put  a  stop  to 
her  practices,  suffer  her  to  go  on  without  notice, 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      129 

thrv   know  very  well   what  they  are   about.     Good 
God !  in  what  times  do  we  live ! " 

Here  this  honest  man  sighed  deeply  and  kept 
silent,  to  give  us  to  understand  that  he  thought 
more  than  he  chose  to  say,  and  I  was  in  hopes  that 
he  would  not  have  annoyed  us  any  longer  in  this 
manner;  but  I  was  much  mistaken.  He  went  on 
again  more  violently  than  before  upon  the  old 
woman's  knavery,  in  a  harangue  which  occupied  a 
long  half  hour;  after  which  he  finished  by  saying, 
"  I  return  a  thousand  thanks  to  Heaven,  that  I  bear 
no  resemblance  to  that  cursed  old  hag,  and  that  I  am 
a  man  of  probity  and  honour,  that  I  may  hold  up  my 
head  in  any  part  of  the  world  without  fearing  the 
least  reproach  from  any  man.  Poor  as  I  am,  nothing 
of  that  sort  goes  on  in  my  house;  everything,  thank 
God,  is  here  sold  for  .what  it  really  is,  and  not  a  cat 
for  a  hare,  nor  a  sheep  for  a  lamb.  Let  no  one  give 
up  his  mind  to  cheating  others,  for  he  only  cheats 
himself  in  the  end.  He  who  deals  ill  must  expect 
ill  treatment  in  return." 

Happily  for  the  muleteer  and  myself  our  host  was 
obliged  to  stop  here  from  want  of  breath.  I  took 
advantage  of  this  opportunity  to  ask  if  he  had  any 
fruit?  He  answered  that  he  had  got  some  very  fine 
olives.  During  the  time  that  he  was  gone  to  fetch 
them  my  comrade  made  an  end  of  the  dish  of  calf's 
brains,  which  I  could  not  much  relish,  thinking  it  too 
much  like  the  andouille ;  but  this  did  not  prevent  its 
being  entirely  demolishe.d.  No  hungry  wolf  ever  fed 
more  greedily  than  the  muleteer,  whose  appetite 

VOL.  I.  I 


(30  MATED  ALEMAN. 

seemed  never  to  be  appeased :  we  had  been  at  least 
an  hour  at  table,  and  his  appetite  seemed  to  continue 
as  sharp  as  when  we  first  sat  down.  For  my  part  I 
relished  the  olives  extremely,  which,  as  well  as  the 
wine,  were  excellent;  as  to  the  bread,  though  bad 
enough,  it  was  much  better  than  what  I  had  met 
with  at  dinner. 

Such  was  our  supper,  and  as  we  intended  to  set 
out  early  the  next  morning  we  desired  our  host  to 
get  our  breakfast  ready  in  time ;  we  then  laid  our- 
selves down  on  some  straw,  after  having  spread 
thereon  some  of  our  mule  furniture  to  serve  to  cover 
us  and  keep  us  warm.  The  fatigue  of  our  journey  and 
the  quantity  of  wine  I  had  drank  made  me  sleep  so 
soundly  that,  though  I  was  bit  by  the  fleas  that  fed 
on  me  all  night,  they  were  not  able  to  rouse  me,  and 
I  verily  believe  I  should  have  slept  till  the  next 
evening  if  the  muleteer  had  not  awaked  me  at  break 
of  day,  giving  me  notice  that  it  was  time  to  think  of 
our  departure.  I  was  soon  ready,  having  only  to 
shake  off  the  bits  of  straw  that  were  sticking  about 
my  hair ;  but  the  fleas  had  left  me  in  such  a  condition 
that  I  looked  like  a  young  monster,  having  so  dis- 
figured my  face  that  I  might  well  have  been  taken  for 
one  who  had  just  recovered  from  the  small-pox. 
If  I  had  been  transported  to  the  market-place  of 
Seville,  I  doubt  whether  any  of  my  friends  would 
have  recognised  me. 

It  being  Sunday  we  began  the  day  by  going  to 
mass,  after  which  we  returned  to  the  inn,  where  my 
hungry  companion  had  not  forgotten  to  order  break- 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      131 

fast ;  it  was  the  first  thing  he  thought  of  after  he  was 
up.  "  Gentlemen,"  said  our  landlord, "  I  have  stewed 
you  a  piece  of  the  same  veal  that  you  supped  off  last 
night,  and  I  have  taken  great  pains  to  cook  it  to  your 
satisfaction."  The  muleteer,  whose  mouth  watered 
at  this  speech,  placed  himself  at  table  in  a  trice 
and  commenced  an  attack  upon  the  ragout,  which 
appeared  to  him  as  delicate  as  peacock's  flesh.  For 
my  part,  either  because  I  had  no  appetite  so  early  in 
the  morning,  or  that  I  had  eaten  too  much  supper 
the  preceding  niecht,  I  did  nothing  for  some  time  but 
look  at  him,  without  feeling  the  least  inclination  to 
follow  his  example;  but  finding  that  he  enjoyed  it  as 
if  it  were  the  finest  dish  in  the  world,  and  fearing 
that  I  might  possibly  have  reason  to  repent  at  dinner 
of  not  having  partaken  of  so  good  a  breakfast,  I  made 
an  effort  to  swallow  a  few  mouthfuls;  but  instead  of 
finding  them  so  savoury  as  my  companion  seemed  to 
fancy  them,  there  was  something  in  them  extremely 
disagreeable  to  my  palate ;  as  for  the  seasoning,  as  our 
host  had  good  reasons  for  being  prodigal  of  his  pepper 
and  salt,  it  seized  hold  of  the  throat,  so  that  I  was 
obliged  to  give  over  as  soon  as  I  had  tasted  it;  in 
addition  to  which  the  flesh  was  so  hard  that  I  could 
not  help  remarking  that  I  thought  the  meat  as  tough 
as  leather,  adding  that  I  did  not  consider  that  it  had 
altogether  the  taste  of  veal.  :'  Don't  you  see,"  said 
our  host,  who  heard  what  I  said,  and  who,  in  spite 
of  his  impudence,  could  not  refrain  from  blushing  a 
little — "  don't  you  see,"  said  he,  "  that  it  has  not  been 
kept  long  enough  to  be  tender  ?  "  The  muleteer,  who 


132  MATEO  ALE  MAN. 

believed  what  the  landlord  advanced,  or  at  least 
thought  that  I  was  too  delicate,  answered  in  a  jeer- 
ing tone  of  voice,  "  That  is  not  the  reason ;  but  our 
young  gentleman  of  Seville  has  always  been  accus- 
tomed to  be  fed  with  new-laid  eggs  and  cracknels,  so 
that  he  finds  fault  with  everything  else." 

I  contented  myself  by  shrugging  up  my  shoulders 
at  this  bantering  of  my  comrade's,  and  said  not  a 
word,  not  knowing  whether  I  was  not  actually  too 
dainty,  or,  what  is  more  probable,  beginning  to  feel 
so  queer  that  I  almost  fancied  myself  in  the  other 
world.  I  could  not  make  up  my  mind  to  touch  this 
meat  again,  but  was  occupied  with  numerous  thoughts 
far  above  my  acre.  I  recollected  the  passionate  be- 
haviour of  our  host  at  our  laughter  at  supper  the 
evening  before,  the  unnecessary  oaths  that  he  made 
on  the  occasion ;  and  as  a  man  undoubtedly  renders 
himself  suspected  who  is  anxious  to  justify  himself 
before  he  is  accused,  I  considered  that  there  must  be 
some  knavery  in  the  business.  When  my  imagina- 
tion was  once  thus  prepossessed  against  him,  the  very 
sight  and  smell  of  his  veal  ragout  quite  turned  my 
stomach,  so  that,  not  being  able  to  remain  much 
longer,  I  rose  from  table  and  waited  patiently  until 
the  muleteer  did  the  same,  which  was  very  shortly 
afterwards.  Although  the  piece  of  veal  was  such  as 
required  a  most  determined  assailant  to  get  through 
it,  my  companion  appeared  to  have  made  but  a  slight 
repast  of  it,  after  which  I  requested  him  to  get  the 
reckoning  of  our  host  to  ascertain  what  each  had  to 
pay,  but  he  answered  me  in  an  obliging  manner  that 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHB.      133 

it  was  such  a  trifle  that  I  was  not  to  think  of  it,  for 
that  he  would  take  care  to  see  it  settled. 

This  generous  behaviour  from  a  man  of  his  rank 
in  life  surprised  me  extremely,  or  rather  charmed  me. 
Had  I  been  in  different  circumstances  I  could  not  in 
honour  have  allowed  this  man  to  pay  for  me,  but  my 
purse  was  so  low  that  it  did  not  either  become  or  suit 
me  to  refuse  his  generosity.  I  allowed  him  therefore, 
without  ceremony,  to  discharge  the  reckoning,  and 
by  way  of  return  I  assisted  him  in  every  way  in  my 
power  in  getting  his  mules  ready  for  our  journey. 
I  would  have  done  almost  anything  for  him,  so  much 
was  I  affected  by  his  noble  behaviour  towards  me. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  LANDLORD    STEALS    GUZMAN'S    CLOAK.       A    GREAT 
UPROAR    AT   THE   INN. 

To  enable  myself  the  better  to  assist  my  friend  the 
muleteer  in  getting  his  mules  ready  for  our  journey, 
I  threw  my  cloak  off,  which  I  folded  up,  and  placed 
on  a  bench  ;  but,  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour  after- 
wards, happening  to  look  that  way,  I  perceived  that 
my  cloak  was  no  longer  there.  This  alarmed  me  at 
first ;  but  I  did  not  vex  myself  extremely  about  it, 
thinking  that  either  our  host  or  the  muleteer  had 
concealed  it  from  me  for  the  purpose  of  amusing 
themselves  by  observing  the  anxiety  it  would  occa- 


}34  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

I  could  not  suspect  any  one  else  of  having  played 
me  this  trick,  for  no  other  person  had  entered  the 
stable  whence  my  cloak  had  been  taken.  I  inquired 
first  of  the  muleteer,  who  told  me  that  he  never 
amused  himself  in  that  way.  I  then  addressed 
myself  to  our  host,  who  instantly  had  recourse  to 
oaths  to  persuade  me  that  he  had  no  hand  in  the 
theft  I  complained  of.  Upon  that  I  determined  to 
search  the  house  for  it,  and  went  over  it  from  top  to 
bottom,  without  forgetting  the  least  comer  in  which 
it  might  be  secreted,  feeling  firmly  convinced  in  my 
own  mind  that  our  host  was  the  one  guilty  of  the 
theft,  whose  physiognomy  alone  sufficiently  justified 
my  presumption. 

I  came  at  last  by  chance  to  a  back  yard,  the  door 
of  which  I  found  some  difficulty  in  opening,  and  the 
objects  that  I  perceived  there  were  sufficient  to  turn 
my  mind  for  some  minutes  from  thinking  of  my 
cloak.  I  observed  upon  the  pavement  a  large  pool 
of  blood  that  had  been  but  newly  spilt,  at  the  side  of 
which  lay  the  skin  of  a  young  mule,  spread  out,  with 
the  four  feet  still  hanging  to  it,  as  well  as  the  ears  and 
head,  which  had  been  opened  to  take  out  the  brains 
and  the  tongue.  I  beheld  this  sight  not  without 
horror,  and  said  to  myself,  "There,  there  lie  the 
remains  of  our  excellent  veal ;  it  is  but  proper  that 
my  companion  should  witness  this  sight  with  his 
own  eyes,  being  at  least  as  much  interested  in  it  as 
myself."  T  ran  to  the  stables  where  he  was,  and 
whispered  to  him  that  if  he  would  accompany  me  I 
would  show  him  something  that  would  be  well  worth 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      135 

his  trouble.  He  followed  me  to  the  back  court, 
where  I  pointed  out  to  him  the  remains  of  the  two 
fine  repasts  that  we  had  made.  "  Well,  my  friend," 
said  I,  "  and  what  do  you  say  to  all  this  ?  Do  you 
still  think  that  I  feed  upon  nothing  but  fresh  eggs 
and  cracknels?  Contemplate  with  voluptuousness 
this  delicate  calf,  of  which  our  host  made  for  us 
those  ragouts  which  you  found  so  savoury.  You  now 
see  how  that  skilful  cook  of  yours  has  regaled  us." 

The  good  muleteer  was  so  ashamed  that  he  had 
not  a  word  to  answer.  "  This  is,  then,"  continued  I, 
"  the  man  of  probity,  who  never  sells  cats  for  hares, 
sheep  for  lambs;  but  who  at  the  same  time  makes  no 
scruple  of  giving  us  a  mule  instead  of  a  calf."  My 
companion,  sad  and  pensive,  returned  to  the  stable, 
and  I  went  to  look  for  our  host,  to  speak  to  him 
more,  stoutly,  thinking  that,  to  oblige  him  to  restore 
my  cloak,  I  had  only  to  apprise  him  that  I  had  dis- 
covered all  his  villany,  and  to  threaten  to  give  notice 
to  the  magistrates;  for  it  was  prohibited  by  an  express 
law,  and  under  heavy  penalties,  for  any  person  to 
have  a  mule  in  his  possession,  the  breeding  of  that 
animal  being  unlawful  in  Andalusia.  Our  host  had 
cared  but  little  about  observing  this  law;  for  having 
about  eight  days  before  had  a  young  mule  out  of  an 
ass  and  a  little  Gallatian  mare,  whom  he  had  trusted 
in  the  same  stable  together,  he  thought  he  might 
safely  venture  to  pass  it  off  upon  travellers,  who  are 
generally  very  hungry,  for  veal. 

I  met  him  at  the  well  in  the  yard,  washing  another 
piece  of  this  supposed  veal,  which  he  endeavoured  to 


1 36  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

hide  as  soon  as  he  perceived  me.  I  came  up  to  him 
with  a  resolute  air,  and  desired  him  in  a  determined 
tone  to  return  me  my  cloak,  or  that  I  should  imme- 
diately make  ray  complaint  elsewhere ;  but  at  these 
words,  which  did  not  frighten  him  in  the  least,  he 
looked  at  me  disdainfully,  called  me  a  little  jacka- 
napes, and  threatened  to  whip  me. 

The  loss  of  my  cloak  had  not  provoked  me  so  much 
as  this  behaviour  of  his;  so  that,  giving  myself  up  to 
my  resentment,  without  considering  the  inequality 
of  our  strength,  I  answered  that  he  was  nothing  but 
a  thief  and  a  knave,  and  that  I  dared  him  to  touch 
me.  He  appeared  stung  by  my  answer,  and  made 
up  to  me  as  if  to  put  his  threat  in  execution;  but 
without  waiting  for  this  giant  (for  he  was  one  in 
comparison  with  myself),  I  took  up  a  large  stone 
and  threw  it  at  his  head,  but  fortunately  for  him  it 
only  just  grazed  one  of  his  ears.  Instead,  however, 
of  closing  with  me  and  crushing  me  with  the  weight 
of  his  body,  he  ran  to  his  chamber,  whence  he  re- 
turned in  an  instant  with  a  long  naked  sword  in  his 
hand.  Far  from  flying  before  this  bravo  I  began  to 
reproach  him  in  the  most  abusive  terms,  upbraiding 
him  as  a  coward  and  poltroon,  for  not  b.-ing  ashamed 
to  make  use  of  a  sword  against  a  young  boy  who 
had  no  other  weapon  than  a  stone  to  defend  him- 
self with. 

All  the  servants  ran  out  to  see  what  was  the  matter, 
and  were  not  a  little  frightened  to  see  their  master 
with  a  drawn  sword  in  his  hand.  My  comrade,  who 
bore  a  spite  against  the  scoundrel  for  the  abominable 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      137 

ragout  that  he  had  been  made  to  eat,  came  up  to  my 
assistance  with  a  pitchfork,  so  that  (the  muleteer  and 
I  of  the  one  part,  the  host,  his  wife,  children,  and 
servants  of  the  other),  we  made  such  an  uproar  be- 
tween us  that  any  one  passing  must  have  thought 
there  was  some  desperate  work  going  forward  in  the 
inn.  All  the  neighbours  were  alarmed  and  came  to 
the  house,  where  they  knocked  at  the  door,  but  not 
waiting  for  its  being  opened  from  within  they  broke 
it  open,  that  they  might  the  sooner  ascertain  the 
cause  of  the  horrid  tumult  they  heard,  then  entered 
a  troop  of  the  police  with  numerous  armed  attend- 
ants and  the  alcaids,  for  on  account  of  the  wicked- 
ness of  the  inhabitants  there  were  two  alcaids  in  this 
town  of  Cantillana. 

These  two  alcaids  had  no  sooner  got  into  the  house 
with  their  followers  than  each  of  them  pretended  that 
the  cognisance  of  this  affair  belonged  to  him  alone, 
which  formed  two  parties.  The  armed  attendants 
were  also  divided  according  to  their  different  interests, 
and  their  division  excited  a  furious  dispute  amongst 
them.  As  the  quarrel  grew  worse  the  noise  grew 
louder,  till  at  last  no  one  could  hear  himself  speak ; 
the  two  parties  grew  so  warm  that  they  no  longer 
scrupled  to  betray  each  other's  feelings,  but  allowed 
the  most  unpleasing  truths  to  escape  them.  From 
these  revilings  they  would  probably  have  proceeded 
to  blows  if  some  honest  inhabitants  of  the  town,  who 
had  entered  the  inn  at  the  same  time  with  them,  had 
not  interfered  and  reconciled  them ;  which  being 
accomplished,  God  knows  how,  nothing  remained 


I38  MATEO  ALE  MAN. 

but  to  ascertain  the  cause  of  our  quarrel,  and  as  a 
cord  always  breaks  first  where  it  is  weakest  they 
began  by  seizing  hold  of  me.  I  was  a  stranger,  with- 
out favour  and  without  acquaintance — Justice  there- 
fore could  not  fail  to  begin  with  me. 

Let  me,  however,  give  these  alcaids  their  due,  for 
they  certainly  did  not  send  me  to  prison  without  a 
hearing.  I  related  to  them  in  a  simple  manner  the 
subject  of  my  dispute  with  our  host  respecting  my 
cloak ;  then,  taking  them  apart,  I  added  the  story  of 
the  mule,  informing  them  that  they  would  still  find 
that  animal's  skin  in  the  back  court,  and  some  pieces 
stewing  in  the  kitchen.  Upon  this  last  article  of  my 
deposition,  my  judges  forgot  all  about  my  cloak,  and 
repaired  to  the  back  court,  after  having,  by  way  of 
precaution,  seized  our  host,  who  did  nothing  but 
laugh,  thinking  that  it  was  all  about  the  cloak,  which 
no  one  had  seen  him  take;  but  when  the  mule's  hide 
and  other  appurtenances  were  brought  forward  in 
judgment  against  him,  he  became  in  an  instant  as 
pale  as  a  condemned  criminal,  and  during  his  exami- 
nation confessed  even  more  than  he  was  accused  of; 
unluckily  for  me,  however,  my  cloak  was  the  only 
subject  on  which  he  remained  firm  :  the  rascal,  from 
a  spirit  of  revenge,  would  not  confess  he  had  stolen  it. 

The  alcaids  sent  this  rogue  to  prison,  which  gave 
me  some  pleasure  in  the  midst  of  my  troubles ;  I  say 
in  the  midst,  for  I  had  not  yet  got  over  them.  The 
alcaids'  clerks,  a  sort  of  people  quite  as  humane  as 
they  are  disinterested,  thinking  that  I  was  of  a  good 
family  and  might  have  a  rich  father,  recommended 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      139 

the  alcaids  in  the  most  Christian  manner  to  detain 
me  also  at  all  chances.  This  advice,  which  was  much 
approved  of  by  my  judges,  would  certainly  have  been 
followed,  had  not  the  citizens  who  were  present 
opposed  so  great  an  injustice  by  saying  aloud  that,  if 
that  were  done,  I  should  be  punished  merely  for  having 
done  my  duty.  The  murmurs  of  these  honest  men 
prevailed  for  this  once  over  the  good  will  of  the 
officers  of  justice,  who  pardoned  me  through  policy. 
The  muleteer,  who  had  been  witness  to  all  that  had 
passed,  and  was  not  a  little  apprehensive  that  they 
would  seize  his  mules  and  him,  whispered  me  to  leave 
as  quickly  as  I  was  able  this  blessed  part  of  the 
country,  where  a  man  need  not  think  himself  badly 
off  if  he  escaped  with  the  loss  of  his  cloak  only.  I 
approved  of  his  advice;  we  mounted  our  beasts  in 
haste  and  rode  out  of  the  inn-yard. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

GUZMAN  AND    THE   MULETEER    MEET   WITH 
ANOTHER    MISFORTUNE. 

WE  were  so  anxious  to  get  clear  of  the  city  that  at 
our  setting  out  we  spurred  on  our  mules,  which  was 
almost  unnecessary,  for  they  seemed  as  impatient  as 
ourselves,  and  to  have  taken  an  equal  aversion  to  the 
inn,  fearing  perhaps  lest  they  should  leave  their  skins 
there  behind  them ;  but  when  we  had  got  a  little  way 


1 40  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

into  the  country  we  slackened  our  pace  again,  both 
keeping  a  profound  silence,  and  each  occupied  by  his 
own  thoughts.  It  was  a  fine  treat  to  observe  the 
countenance  of  my  friend  the  muleteer ;  all  desire  for 
laughing  had  entirely  forsaken  him  since  I  had  pointed 
out  to  him  the  remains  of  the  mule,  and  he  dared  not 
venture  to  jeer  me  on  our  admirable  repast,  fearing 
the  repartees  that  I  might  have  made,  as  he  had  eaten 
at  least  six  times  the  quantity  that  I  had,  both  of  the 
andouille  and  the  brains,  and  the  whole  of  the  morn- 
ing's ragout  was  still  on  his  stomach,  so  that  had  he 
thought  proper  to  rally  me  again,  which  by  the  by 
was  very  far  from  his  thoughts,  I  could  have  easily 
silenced  him. 

If  my  companion  had  cause  for  disagreeable  re- 
flections, I  was  not  more  satisfied  with  the  images 
that  presented  themselves  to  my  imagination.  "  O 
Heavens!"  said  I,  "  what  unlucky  star  prevailed  on 
me  to  quit  my  mother's  house ;  no  sooner  had  I  left 
it  than  everything  became  contrary  with  me;  one 
misfortune  has  only  been  the  presage  of  another : 
the  first  night  I  was  forced  to  lie  down  to  sleep  at  a 
chapel  door,  and  that  without  supper ;  the  next  day 
I  had  nothing  but  a  chick  omelet  for  dinner,  and  in 
the  evening  was  regaled  with  several  ragouts  made  of 
a  mule  travestied  into  veal ;  at  night  I  was  devoured 
by  fleas,  which  happily  I  was  not  aware  of;  and  to- 
day I  had  like  to  have  fared  equally  well,  and,  what 
is  worse,  have  lost  my  cloak  j  nothing  was  wanting 
to  complete  my  misfortune  but  that  I  should  have 
been  sent  to  prison  in  company  with  the  man  who 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      141 

stole  it,  and  it  was  not  the  fault  of  my  judges  that 
was  not  the  case." 

Whenever  I  thought  of  this  theft  I  sighed  bit- 
terly, for  this  loss  afflicted  me  more  than  all  the 
other  unfortunate  occurrences;  in  fact,  I  had  more 
reason  to  regret  it;  the  stomach  may  recover  itself 
from  the  effects  of  a  bad  meal,  and  an  uneasy  night 
may  be  made  amends  for  by  the  following  one ;  bu\ 
how  was  the  loss  of  a  cloak  to  be  repaired  with  st 
little  money  as  I  had  in  my  pocket?  Nevrithelesa 
the  evil  being  without  remedy,  I  resolved  to  Uur  ii 
patiently.  I  had  heard  it  said  that  the  life  oi  nun  i* 
a  compound  of  happiness  and  misery,  of  pleasure  ant 
pain ;  "  if  so,"  said  I,  "  be  comforted,  friend  Guz- 
man, for  you  are  assuredly  on  the  brink  of  SOUK 
good  fortune,  since  you  have  as  yet  met  with  nothii ..?. 
but  mischances  since  your  departure  from  Seville." 

Buoyed  up  by  this  flattering  hope,  I  was  jiwrt 
beginning  to  recover  myself  when  I  perceived  tvro 
men  upon  mules,  who  had  very  much  the  appear- 
ance of  what  they  really  were,  riding  up  at  a  quicU 
trot  behind  us,  who  having  come  up  to  us  examined 
us  attentively,  as  if  they  were  looking  for  some  on>». 
who  very  much  resembled  me.  Their  very  look' 
were  enough  to  make  me  uneasy  ;  the  holy  Brother- 
hood of  which  they  had  the  honour  to  be  members 
probably  had  not  any  among  them  of  a  more  terrific 
appearance.  They  looked  earnestly  at  me,  and  as  I 
appeared  rather  surprised  and  even  a  little  alarmed, 
they  leapt  from  their  mules  without  wanting  any 
further  proof,  and  falling  upon  me  both  together 


U2  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

they  threw  me  from  my  mule  to  the  ground,  then 
seizing  me  by  the  arm  one  of  them  said,  "  Ah !  Mr. 
Rogue,  have  we  caught  you  at  last?  come,  little 
wretch,  give  up  the  money ;  give  up  the  jewels  that 
you  have  stolen,  or  we  will  immediately  hang  you 
up  on  the  tree  that  you  see  a  few  paces  off."  At 
these  words  they  set  to  and  pulled  and  cuffed  me 
about  so  unmercifully  that  it  was  in  vain  for  me  to 
attempt  to  defend  myself. 

The  good-natured  muleteer,  touched  with  com- 
passion to  see  me  so  cruelly  treated,  represented  to 
them  that  they  were  certainly  mistaken  in  me;  but 
he  was  but  ill-paid  for  his  remonstrance,  for  they 
turned  upon  him,  and  when  they  were  tired  of 
thumping  him,  accused  him  of  being  the  receiver  of 
the  goods  Ihad  stolen,  and  seized  both  him  and  his 
mules,  asking  him  how  he  had  disposed  of  the 
money  and  jewels ;  and  as  he  could  answer  them  in 
no  other  manner  than  that  he  was  entirely  ignorant 
of  what  money  and  jewels  they  alluded  to,  a  fresh 
shower  of  blows  fell  upon  him  without  mercy.  I 
must  confess  here  my  bad  disposition ;  I  could  not 
help  feeling  a  malignant  satisfaction  in  seeing  this 
poor  devil,  upon  whom  I  had  brought  this  ill-luck,  so 
unmercifully  banged ;  for  it  was  to  him  that  I  attri- 
buted the  loss  of  my  cloak  and  our  infernal  repast  at 
supper.  After  having  well  pummelled  us  both  they 
rummaged  out  our  pockets  and  searched  us  care- 
fully ;  and  not  finding  what  they  were  in  search  of, 
they  bound  our  hands  with  cords,  designing  to  con- 
duct us  in  this  state  to  Seville.  We  were  already 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      143 

leashed  together  like  greyhounds,  when  one  of  the 
constables  who  had  bound  my  hands  said  with  sur- 
prise to  his  companion,  "  God  forgive  me,  comrade, 
but  I  think  that  we  have  been  too  precipitate  and 
are  deceived ;  the  fellow  that  we  are  in  pursuit  of  has 
no  thumb  on  his  left  hand,  and  this  chap  has  all  his 
fingers  perfect."  The  constable  hearing  this,  drew 
forth  his  instructions  and  read  them  aloud.  The 
thief  was  there  described  in  a  manner  very  different 
from  my  appearance;  for  besides  that  he  wanted  a 
thumb,  it  was  there  stated  that  he  was  nineteen  or 
twenty  years  of  age,  and  had  long  black  hair  falling 
over  his  back  like  a  horse's  tail ;  instead  of  which  no 
one  could  take  me  to  be  more  than  fourteen,  and  my 
hair  was  very  short,  of  a  reddish  colour,  and  much 
curled.  Finding  therefore,  that  they  had  made  a 
mistake,  they  unbound  us,  and  taking  possession  of 
a  few  reals  by  way  of  fee,  which  the  muleteer  had  in 
his  pocket,  they  apologised  to  us  by  laughing  in  our 
faces,  and  remounted  their  mules,  leaving  us  all 
covered  with  bruises,  particularly  my  friend  the 
muleteer,  whose  thick  built  robust  shoulders  had 
been  less  spared  than  mine.  To  make  amends  my 
mouth  was  full  of  blood,  and  almost  all  my  teeth 
loosened  by  the  several  fisticuffs  I  had  received. 

This  did  not  prevent  us,  however,  from  getting 
upon  our  mules  again  and  continuing  our  route; 
but  in  as  sorrowful  a  plight  as  any  one  would  have 
done  on  such  an  occasion.  When  we  had  got  within 
a  quarter  of  a  league  from  the  village  del  Pedoro,  we 


144  MATEO  ALE  MAN. 

perceived  and  soon  joined  the  two  friars,  who  were 
walking  on  slowly,  waiting  till  we  came  up. 

I  related  to  them  the  cause  of  our  delay  j  for  the 
muleteer  was  in  such  a  condition  that  he  had  not 
courage  to  speak  a  word.  These  good  men  much 
pitied  us :  the  last  adventure  appeared  to  them  the 
most  distressing,  and  one  of  these  gentlemen  took 
occasion  to  say,  "  God  keep  every  honest  man  from 
three  Holies  that  are  at  this  time  in  Spain,  viz., 
the  holy  Inquisition,  the  holy  Brotherhood ;  and  the 
holy  Crusado.  Especially,  if  he  be  innocent,  God 
keep  him  from  the  holy  Brotherhood ;  there  may  be 
some  hope  of  justice  with  the  two  others,  but  all  that 
can  be  said  in  favour  of  this  latter  is,  happy  are  they 
who  do  not  fall  into  its  hands." 

The  friar  who  had  treated  me  with  a  sermon  the 
day  before,  and  who  was  quite  upon  the  itch  to  be 
preaching  again,  managed  to  turn  the  conversation 
upon  the  vanities  of  the  world,  that  he  might  take 
the  opportunity  of  informing  us  we  could  look  for 
none  but  false  pleasures  in  this  world,  and  that  true 
pleasure  is  in  heaven,  where  only  it  is  to  be  found ; 
that  even  such  diversions  as  promise  the  greatest 
possible  pleasure  are  sire  to  be  either  accompanied 
or  followed  by  some  m<  rtification  or  other.  "  Have 
you  any  objection,"  added  he,  addressing  himself  to 
his  comrade,  "  that  I  should  relate  to  you  a  fable  on 
this  subject,  which  I  think  wejl  worthy  to  be  listened 
to  ?  you  will  not  be  sorry  to  hear  it."  At  the  same 
time,  without  waiting  for  his  companion's  answer,  hf 
began  in  these  words  : 


THE  LIFE  OP  GUZMAN  &ALFARACHE.      145 

"  Jupiter,  not  content  with  having  created  all  things 
on  earth  for  man,  through  an  excess  of  love  for  them, 
sent  the  god  of  pleasure  in  early  times  to  reside  here 
below,  solely  to  make  them  joyful.  But  man,  and 
more  especially  woman,  attaching  themselves  to  this 
new  deity,  whose  attractions  completely  charmed 
them,  resolved  to  look  up  to  him  only  as  their 
divinity;  they  believed  that  he  was  able  to  gratify 
all  their  wishes.  Thus  thinking  that  they  could  dis- 
pense with  all  the  other  gods  in  heaven,  they  began 
to  forget  them ;  no  prayers,  sacrifices,  or  victims 
were  offered  up  to  any  but  the  god  of  pleasure. 
Jupiter,  being  the  one  most  offended,  felt  this  in- 
gratitude of  his  creatures  so  sensibly  that  he  con- 
sidered he  ought  to  avenge  himself  on  them,  and 
called  a  council  of  the  immortals  to  consult  with 
him,  fearing  that  he  might  be  accused  of  having 
listened  to  nothing  but  his  anger. 

"All  the  gods  condemned  this  behaviour  of  man 
more  or  less,  according  to  the  sentiments  that  each 
entertained  for  them ;  the  most  good-natured  amongst 
them  represented  to  Jupiter  that  men  were  but  men, 
that  is  to  say,  weak  and  faulty  creatures,  from  whom 
he  could  expect  nothing  but  imprudence  and  indis- 
cretion ;  that  in  their  opinion  the  Father  of  Heaven, 
instead  of  viewing  their  weakness  with  severity,  ought 
rather  to  have  pity  on  them  than  think  of  punishing 
them.  Were  we  men,  as  they  are,  added  they,  we 
might  conduct  ourselves  in  the  same  manner,  perhaps 
even  worse;  besides,  consider  what  god  it  is  that  you 
have  given  them  ?  see  in  what  manner  he  uses  them  ; 

VOL.  I.  K 


146  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

he  never  L-aves  them,  he  flatters  their  desires,  and 
enchants  them  with  his  seducing  manners.  You,  on 
the  contrary,  are  seen  by  them  but  seldom,  and  almost 
always  with  thunder  in  your  hand,  which  frightens 
them ;  you  ought  not  therefore  to  be  surprised  if  they 
fear  you  more  than  they  love  you.  They  may  here- 
after perhaps  reflect  seriously  upon  their  fault  and 
make  atonement,  as  soon  as  they  are  informed  how 
much  their  blind  attachment  to  this  divinity  has 
caused  them  to  wrong  the  immortals,  and  particularly 
yourself. 

"  When  the  gods,  thus  peaceably  inclined,  had  thus 
remonstrated  with  Jupiter,  Momus,  who  hated  man, 
wished  to  give  advice  directly  opposite;  but  he  began 
in  such  free  terms  that  he  was  silenced  and  told  that 
he  should  be  heard  in  his  turn.  The  other  gods  who 
were  not  better  inclined  towards  the  human  race  than 
Momus  did  all  they  could  to  persuade  the  son  of 
Saturn  to  extirpate  mankind,  alleging  that  they  were 
useless  beings,  for  whom  the  gods  had  no  manner  of 
occasion.  Others  not  so  violent,  thinking  they  gave 
admirable  advice,  recommended  Jupiter  to  reduce 
such  as  had  been  culpable  into  dust  again  and  create 
others  more  perfect  in  their  place,  which  would  be  an 
easy  matter  for  him  to  do,  upon  which  Apollo  re- 
quested permission  to  speak,  and  with  that  air  of 
sweetness  which  has  ever  been  attributed  to  him 
addressed  himself  to  the  Father  of  the  gods  in  these 
words : 

"  *  Supreme  Jupiter,  full  of  love  and  goodness,  thou 
art  so  justly  irritated  against  man  that  whatever  cruel 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.     147 

revenge  you  may  be  disposed  to  take  on  him  no  in- 
habitant of  Olympus  will  pretend  to  oppose  thy  will, 
it  being  not  less  the  interest  of  all  the  gods  in  general 
than  thine  in  particular,  that  mortals  should  not  prove 
ungrateful  for  the  favours  and  benefits  they  daily 
receive  at  our  hands.  Suffer  me,  however,  to  make 
it  appear  to  you  that  if  thou  destroyest  man  thou 
destroyest  thine  own  work.  This  world,  which  thou 
hast  created  and  embellished  with  a  thousand  wonder- 
ful things  which  thou  hast  bestowed  upon  it,  will  be 
no  longer  of  any  use,  for  we  shall  not  any  of  us  leave 
heaven  to  reside  there.  If  thou  destroyest  man  to 
make  a  new  race,  that  will  do  thee  no  honour,  for  it 
will  rather  be  said  that  thou  couldst  not  make  thy 
work  perfect  in  less  than  two  trials ;  suffer,  therefore, 
the  human  race  to  remain  as  it  is,  for  it  greatly  con- 
cerns thy  glory  to  maintain  what  thou  hast  created. 
Perhaps  I  may  go  so  far  as  to  say  that  I  do  not  think 
it  would  be  to  the  honour  of  the  gods  if  men  were 
without  imperfection;  if  they  were  not  weak  and 
full  of  wants,  what  occasion  would  they  have  for  our 
assistance  ? 

"  'Nevertheless,'  continued  he/ these  ingrates  ought 
to  be  punished.  Thou  hast  given  them  the  god  Plea- 
sure, to  whom  they  are  too  much  attached  ;  thou  hast 
only  therefore  to  oblige  them  to  give  up  the  idol  and 
send  them  down  his  brother  in  his  room,  thus  thou 
wilt  chastise  them  by  the  same  means  as  they  have 
offended  thee.  They  will,  I  am  convinced,  soon  ac- 
knowledge their  fault,  and  have  recourse  to  thy  mercy 
to  pardon  their  blindness;  thou  wilt  then  be  fully 


148  MATEO  ALEMAX. 

avenged,  and  thou  canst  either  forgive  them  of 
abandon  them  to  the  tyranny  of  their  new  divinity. 
This,  great  Jupiter!  is  what  seems  to  me  most  be- 
coming thy  glory  on  this  occasion ;  but  the  lord  of 
heaven  and  earth  knows  best  what  is  fit  to  be  done.' 

"Apollo  ceased  to  speak,  and  Momus,  who  was 
prepared  with  a  discourse  which  his  hatred  for  man 
had  suggested,  began  to  aggravate  their  offence ;  but 
he  was  but  the  dupe  of  his  ill-will;  all  the  other 
immortals,  who  well  knew  his  prejudice,  rejected  his 
advice  and  agreed  in  opinion  with  Apollo.  Agree- 
ably to  the  decision  of  the  celestial  assembly,  Mercury 
cut  through  the  air  in  a  moment  and  descended  upon 
earth,  where  he  found  man  completely  busied  and 
charmed  with  the  god  Pleasure.  No  sooner  did  he 
begin  to  put  in  execution  his  orders  to  deprive  them 
of  him  than  a  general  insurrection  took  place  among 
the  w'omen  as  well  as  the  men.  Such  fury  was  never 
known  before;  they  ranged  themselves  round  about 
their  cherished  deity,  protesting  they  would  rather  die 
than  be  deprived  of  him. 

"  Mercury  returned  quickly  up  to  heaven,  to  in- 
form Jupiter  of  this  disorder,  whose  wrath  towards 
man  was  increased  by  this  intelligence ;  but  Apollo, 
who  always  favoured  them,  interceded  once  more  in 
their  behalf  so  effectually  that  he  prevented  the 
thunder  from  being  hurled  upon  them.  *  Lord  of 
Olympus,'  said  he,  '  have  pity  on  these  poor  weak 
creatures,  and,  instead  of  suffering  your  thunder  to 
fall  upon  them,  allow  me  to  propose  a  milder  method 
of  bringing  them  to  their  senses.  Let  us  deceive  them 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHB.      149 

by  a  skilful  trick,  by  withdrawing  from  them  the  god 
of  pleasure  without  their  perceiving  it,  and  placing 
under  the  same  shape  the  god  Dissatisfaction  in  his 
stead.' 

"  This  stratagem  was  approved  of,  and  Apollo 
himself  undertook  the  execution  of  it.  He  descended 
upon  earth  with  the  god  Dissatisfaction  disguised, 
and  found  men  and  women  all  up  in  arms  to  protect 
their  idol,  whom  they  had  placed  in  the  midst  of 
them ;  he  dazzled  their  eyes  and  easily  made  the 
intended  exchange;  after  which  he  returned  to  the 
immortals  again,  to  enjoy  with  them  the  trick  that 
he  had  just  played  upon  mankind,  who  from  that 
time,  believing  themselves  still  to  have  Pleasure 
among  them,  have  sacrificed  to  his  brother,  without 
knowing  it,  in  his  place." 

This  fable  was  much  applauded  by  the  bachelor, 
who  agreed  with  his  friend  who  had  related  it  that 
assuredly  the  pleasures  of  life  seduce  us  by  fine 
appearances  without  there  being  any  reality  to  be 
found  in  them.  "  Alas!  "  thought  I  to  myself  while 
the  gentlemen  were  thus  reasoning,  "  that  is  but  too 
true.  When  I  first  took  it  into  my  head  to  travel, 
I  formed  a  most  delightful  idea  of  my  journey,  and 
flattered  my  imagination  with  a  thousand  agreeable 
fancies,  the  fallacy  of  which  I  am  already  but  too 
well  acquainted  with."  After  the  friars  had  moralised 
for  a  considerable  time  upon  this  subject,  the  bachelor 
said  to  his  companion,  "  To  enliven  the  conversation 
a  little,  and  to  amuse  us  on  the  road,  I  purpose,  with 
your  permission,  to  relate  you  a  story  which  is  to 


ISO 


MATEO  ALEMAN. 


be  found  in  the  history  of  our  wars  with  the  Moors." 
The  other  friar  appeared  curious  to  hear  it,  and,  aa 
well  as  I  can  remember,  the  bachelor  recited  it  nearly 
in  the  following  words. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

THE  AMOUR   OF  OZMIN  AND    THE  BEAUTIFUL 
DARAXA. 

WHILST  their  Catholic  majesties  Ferdinand  and 
Isabella  were  at  the  siege  of  Baza,  the  Moors  kept 
the  Christians  in  full  employment,  and  prodigies  of 
valour  were  performed  on  both  sides.  The  place 
was  well  situated  and  in  good  condition,  and  was 
defended  by  a  garrison  composed  of  the  choicest 
troops  of  the  king  of  Granada.  Mahomet,  surnamed 
El  Chiquito — the  diminutive — the  governor,  was  a 
man  skilful  and  experienced  in  war.  Isabella  was  at 
Jaen,  where  she  took  care  to  supply  the  Christian 
troops,  which  Ferdinand  commanded  in  person,  with 
provisions.  The  army  was  divided  into  two  bodies, 
one  of  which  besieged  the  town,  while  the  other 
covered  the  siege. 

As  the  Moors  had  spared  nothing  to  prevent  the 
possibility  of  communication  between  the  two  camps, 
scarcely  a  day  passed  without  some  furious  skirmish. 
On  one  of  these  occasions  the  besieged  fought  so 
desperately  that  they  would  have  decisively  defeated 
their  besiegers  if  any  valour  could  have  made  it  pos- 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      151 

sible;  but  the  latter,  animated  by  the  presence  and 
example  of  their  king,  and  reinforced  by  frequent 
succours,  obliged  the  Infidels  at  length  to  take  flight, 
and  pursued  them  so  closely  that  they  entered  with 
them  pell-mell  into  the  suburbs  of  Baza. 

The  governor  would  not  have  failed  to  take  advan- 
tage of  this  indiscreet  ardour  of  the  Christians  had 
his  troops  been  sufficient  to  support  him  in  a  vigorous 
sally;  but  finding  his  garrison  too  much  weakened 
to  undertake  such  an  enterprise,  he  prudently  con- 
tented himself  with  firing  on  the  enemy  from  the 
walls,  that  they  might  not  effect  a  lodgment  in  the 
suburbs ;  he  then  caused  the  gates  of  the  town  to  be 
closed,  fearing  lest  it  should  be  carried  by  assault. 
In  vain  was  he  informed  that  his  only  daughter  had 
unfortunately  left  the  town  to  take  the  air  in  a  gar- 
den in  the  suburbs,  and  that  it  was  much  feared  she 
had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  Christians;  he 
answered  like  the  Roman  consul,  that  he  had  rather 
lose  his  daughter  than  a  fortress  which  the  king  had 
confided  to  his  defence. 

Among  the  noblemen  in  the  Christian  army  who 
entered  the  suburbs  with  the  Moors,  Don  Alonso  de 
Zuniga  was  one  who  had  particularly  signalised 
himself.  This  cavalier,  who  was  about  eighteen 
years  of  age,  was  now  making  his  first  campaign; 
his  aim  was  glory,  and  his  only  object  in  coming 
to  the  siege  of  Baza  was  to  deserve  the  esteem  of 
Ferdinand  by  the  performance  of  some  remarkable 
feat.  Fortune  favoured  his  wishes,  for  while  in  pur- 
suit of  the  enemy,  putting  all  who  offered  resistance 


152  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

to  the  sword,  he  approached  a  magnificent  looking 
house,  which  appeared  to  belong  to  some  person  of 
quality.  Resolved  to  ascertain  whether  there  was 
any  one  within,  he  caused  the  door  to  be  forced  open 
with  his  soldiers'  axes.  About  a  dozen  men,  armed 
with  sabres  only,  presented  themselves  to  dispute 
their  entrance;  but  four  or  five  of  these  being  over- 
thrown damped  the  courage  of  the  rest,  who  saved 
themselves  by  flight  over  the  walls  of  the  garden. 

Don  Alonso's  soldiers,  delighted  to  find  a  house 
elegantly  furnished,  thought  of  nothing  but  plunder- 
ing it;  for  himself,  who  wished  for  nothing  but  an 
opportunity  of  signalising  himself,  he  examined  the 
house  from  top  to  bottom,  sword  in  hand,  with  five 
or  six  of  his  followers,  breaking  open  every  door,  to 
see  if  there  were  any  other  Moors  prepared  to  oppose 
him.  Passing  thus  from  room  to  room  he  at  length 
came  to  the  last,  at  the  door  of  which  he  heard  a 
loud  shriek  from  within,  and  at  the  same  time  per- 
ceived five  women,  four  of  whom,  all  in  tears  and 
almost  senseless  with  fear,  threw  themselves  at  his 
feet,  imploring  him  to  save  their  honour  and  their 
lives;  but  the  fifth,  who  by  her  air  and  majestic 
appearance  was  evidently  the  mistress  of  the  rest, 
instead  of  kneeling  with  the  others,  held  a  poniard  in 
her  hand  with  a  determined  countenance.  "  Stop ! " 
said  she,  in  the  Castilian  language,  upon  Don  Alonso'a 
approaching  her,  "  this  dagger  shall  protect  me  from 
any  one  who  presumes  to  touch  me." 

No  sooner  did  Don  Alonso  behold  the  face  of  the 
lady  who  addressed  him  in  these  courageous  terms, 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      153 

than  he  was  quite  captivated  by  her  beauty,  and  felt 
the  emotions  that  love  creates  in  a  heart  for  the  first 
time  subjected  to  its  dominion.  Already  enraptured 
by  his  rising  passion,  he  raised  the  visor  of  his  hel- 
met, sheathed  his  sword,  and  told  the  lady,  in  the 
most  mild  and  respectful  manner,  that  she  need  not 
be  apprehensive  of  any  violence  from  one  who  felt 
extremely  concerned  at  the  alarm  he  had  caused  her, 
but  at  the  same  time  he  felt  most  truly  happy  that 
fate  had  conducted  him  into  her  presence  to  save 
her  from  the  misfortunes  that  threatened  her;  he 
entreated  her  therefore  to  confide  herself  to  his 
protection,  and  to  accompany  him  at  once,  for  fear 
of  the  fury  of  the  soldiers,  who,  not  being  accustomed 
on  such  occasions  as  these  to  acknowledge  any  con- 
trol, might  put  it  out  of  his  power  to  preserve  her 
from  their  outrages. 

At  these  words,  the  truth  of  which  she  but  too 
well  felt,  she  accepted  his  proffered  assistance ;  upon 
which  he  desired  his  followers  to  take  care  of  the 
other  women,  and  let  them  carry  away  with  them 
whatever  they  wished ;  after  which  he  offered  his 
hand  to  his  captive,  who,  in  spite  of  her  uneasiness, 
was  somewhat  divested  of  her  fears  by  the  attention 
and  appearance  of  the  young  cavalier;  armed  as  he 
was,  to  behold  his  beautiful  face,  and  his  long  hair 
which  flowed  in  curls  over  his  cuirass,  he  had  more 
the  appearance  of  a  beautiful  girl  than  of  a  soldier. 

This  charming  Moor,  who,  without  exception, 
was  the  most  engaging  beauty  in  the  kingdom  of 
Granada,  was  named  Daraxa.  She  was  the  daughter 


'54 


MATED  ALE  MAN. 


of  the  governor ;  and  having  learned  that  the  Moors 
had  been  driven  back  into  the  suburbs,  she  had 
endeavoured  to  regain  the  town,  but  finding  the 
gates  closed  had  been  obliged  to  return  to  this 
garden. 

Though  she  was  very  fortunate  in  having  fallen 
into  the  hands  of  Don  Alonso,  yet  the  thoughts  of 
becoming  a  captive  to  the  Christians  sadly  afflicted 
her.  In  spite  of  her  courage  she  could  not  refrain 
from  tears ;  she  was  not  able  to  make  any  other 
reply  to  the  obliging  offers  of  her  generous  enemy 
than  by  giving  him  her  hand,  to  show  the  confi- 
dence she  reposed  in  him.  The  young  warrior,  moved 
by  the  tears  of  his  fair  prisoner,  tried  all  he  could  to 
console  her;  and  as  he  spoke  from  the  abundance  of 
his  heart,  what  he  said  was  so  tenderly  expressive 
that  in  any  other  situation  it  might  have  had  more 
effect  on  the  beautiful  Moor;  but,  although  she  felt 
most  sensibly  his  endeavours  to  soothe  her  under  her 
misfortune,  the  acknowledgments  that  she  made 
were  but  very  inadequate  as  a  return  for  the  lively 
interest  he  took  on  her  behalf. 

As  soon  as  he  was  informed  that  a  retreat  was 
sounded  by  order  of  the  king,  and  that  the  Christians 
were  already  filing  off  to  regain  the  camp,  he  yielded 
his  own  horse  to  the  lady,  who  vaulted  into  the 
saddle  entirely  unassisted,  and  knew  well  how  to 
manage  her  steed.  He  then  assembled  his  soldiers 
in  haste,  in  the  midst  of  whom  he  placed  the  beauti- 
ful Moor  and  her  women;  and  putting  himself  at 
the  head  of  this  little  corps,  which  looked  more  like; 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      155 

a  cavalcade  than  an  escort,  he  followed  the  other 
troops  in  the  retreat. 

The  king  was  already  acquainted  with  his  adven- 
ture before  he  arrived  at  the  camp,  and  was  the  more 
rejoiced  at  it  as  he  entertained  a  particular  regard  for 
this  cavalier,  whom  he  considered  to  be  a  young  man 
of  great  promise.  Impatient  to  see  so  illustrious  a 
prisoner,  he  did  her  the  honour  to  advance  to  receive 
her  as  soon  as  he  perceived  Don  Alonso  approaching 
his  tent  to  conduct  her  into  his  presence.  She  ad- 
vanced towards  his  Majesty  with  so  majestic  a  mien 
and  so  gracefully  as  to  charm  all  who  beheld  her; 
and  would  have  fallen  on  her  knees  before  him,  but 
he  prevented  her  so  politely  and  received  her  in  such 
a  manner  that  she  uttered,  in  a  sort  of  ecstasy,  "  Ah  ! 
my  lord,  what  charms  would  the  honour  of  saluting 
the  great  Ferdinand  have  had,  had  it  not  been 
annexed  by  fate  to  one  of  the  most  cruel  misfortunes 
that  could  have  happened  to  me ! "  "  Madam," 
answered  the  king  in  a  most  gracious  manner, 
"you  have  no  reason  to  consider  it  a  misfortune  to 
have  become  the  prisoner  of  Don  Alonso  de  Zuniga, 
who  is  an  amiable  young  man,  and  who  will  pay 
you  every  attention,  and  spare  nothing  which  may 
alleviate  your  misfortune;  and,  for  my  own  part,  I 
will  take  care  you  shall  be  so  well  entertained  that 
you  shall  soon  cease  to  have  occasion  to  repine  at 
fortune." 

His  Majesty  added  that  she  might  write  to  her 
father  the  governor,  assuring  him  she  should  meet 
with  the  treatment  due  to  her  birth.  He  then  de- 


156  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

sired  Don  Alonso,  with  a  smile,  to  continue  to  take 
good  care  of  Daraxa.  "  Conduct  her,"  said  he,  "  to 
my  own  tent,  where  she  can  rest  this  night  with  her 
women,  and  to-morrow  you  shall  yourself  escort  her 
to  Jaen,  where  she  will  be  better  received  and  enter- 
tained by  the  queen  than  she  can  be  in  a  camp." 

Those  officers  in  the  army  who  had  seen  the 
beautiful  Moor  spoke  of  her  to  the  others  in  such 
high  terms  that  they  were  all  curious  to  see  her,  and 
applied  to  Zunijra,  to  whom  she  was  confided,  to 
gratify  their  curiosity ;  but  Don  Alonso,  jealous  of 
his  happiness,  would  not  grant  their  requests,  but 
managed  to  keep  them  from  the  royal  tent  by  all 
sorts  of  excuses ;  for  they  persecuted  him  in  such  a 
manner,  to  afford  them  this  satisfaction,  that  he  was 
much  troubled  to  resist  their  importunities.  The  next 
morning,  according  to  the  king's  orders,  he  set  out 
for  Jaen,  where  he  arrived  in  the  evening  with  his 
charming  captive,  whom  he  presented  to  the  queen. 
Her  Majesty,  to  whom  the  king  had  despatched  a 
courier  the  preceding  evening,  was  already  informed 
of  everything.  She  received  Daraxa  most  graciously, 
and  was  extremely  pleased  to  see  her.  She  was  par- 
ticularly struck  with  the  elegance  of  her  appearance ; 
and  when  she  had  conversed  with  her  for  some  time, 
was  convinced  that  her  good  sense  and  wit  were  at 
least  equal  to  her  beauty. 

In  the  meantime  Don  Alonso,  having  performed 
his  commission  and  being  obliged  to  return  to  the 
army,  found  now  for  the  first  time  that  if  love  has  its 
sweets  it  is  not  unaccompanied  by  chagrin,  and  that 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      157 

that  deity  makes  us  pay  dearly  for  the  least  favour. 
He  could  not  reflect  without  extreme  pain  that  he 
was  on  the  point  of  leaving  his  beautiful  Moor;  but 
what  most  afflicted  him  was  that  he  had  not  yet 
disclosed  his  sentiments  to  her,  though  he  had  had 
more  than  one  favourable  opportunity ;  either  from  a 
timidity  which  the  bravest  lovers  sometimes  feel,  or 
from  want  of  experience,  he  had  resolved  to  take  no 
other  mode  of  declaring  his  passion  than  by  his 
actions;  nevertheless,  as  he  knew  that  men  ought  to 
speak  first  on  such  occasions,  he  made  up  his  mind 
at  length  to  declare  himself.  He  had  only  now  to 
think  of  the  manner  in  which  he  should  make  this 
avowal ;  and  having  reflected  for  a  long  time  on  the 
subject,  but  not  being  content  with  anything  he  could 
think  of,  he  resolved  to  leave  it  entirely  to  his  passion 
to  inspire  him  with  wrords. 

With  this  intention  he  repaired  to  the  queen  to 
receive  her  commands,  and  asked  permission  to  take 
leave  of  Daraxa.  The  queen,  who  well  knew  that 
this  young  lord  could  not  have  passed  two  days  with 
so  lovely  a  person  as  the  beautiful  Moor  with  im- 
punity, wished  to  have  the  pleasure  of  witnessing 
their  separation.  "  What  you  desire  is  reasonable," 
said  she  to  Don  Alonso,  "  since  Daraxa  is  your 
prisoner;  but  as  she  is  under  my  protection  I  must 
watch  over  all  her  actions,  you  can  only  converse 
with  her  therefore  in  my  presence."  This  embar- 
rassed him,  and  he  now  almost  despaired  of  being 
able  to  acquaint  his  captive  that  in  leaving  her  he 
quitted  what  was  dearest  in  the  world  to  him. 


I58  MATEO 

What  he  viewed  as  so  great  an  obstacle  to  the 
accomplishment  of  his  desires  served,  however,  to  pro- 
mote them.  The  queen,  having  sent  for  the  beau- 
tiful Moor,  said  to  her,  "My  daughter "  (for  so  she 
already  called  her  from  friendship),  "  behold  a  young 
warrior,  who  I  fear  is  more  to  be  pitied  and  more  a 
prisoner  than  you  are.  He  has  considered  it  a  duty  to 
take  leave  of  his  captive  previous  to  his  departure  for 
the  army ;  I  am  his  friend,  and  I  permit  him  to  dis- 
close in  my  presence  the  tender  sentiments  that  he 
cannot  but  have  conceived  for  you."  Daraxa  blushed; 
she  had  been  till  now  so  much  taken  up  with  her 
own  misfortunes  that  she  had  not  once  thought  of 
endeavouring  to  distinguish  the  motives  of  Don 
Alonso's  actions,  or  if  she  had  observed  any  atten- 
tion more  than  ordinary  in  his  behaviour  she  had 
attributed  it  solely  to  pity,  which  is  never  without 
a  degree  of  tenderness ;  besides  which,  her  heart  was 
already  prepossessed  in  favour  of  another,  so  that  she 
could  but  look  upon  Zuniga  with  an  indifferent  eye. 

She  replied  to  the  queen  that  she  should  never 
forget  her  obligations  to  that  cavalier,  and  that  not 
having  it  in  her  power  to  acknowledge  them,  other- 
wise than  by  her  wishes,  she  hoped  that  it  would  not 
be  his  fate  to  be  taken  prisoner;  or  should  he  be  so 
unfortunate,  she  trusted  that  he  would  meet  with  as 
kind  treatment  as  she  had  experienced.  The  queen, 
curious  to  hear  what  answer  Don  Alonso  would  make 
to  this  compliment,  made  no  reply,  to  afford  him  an 
opportunity  of  speaking.  But  this  young  nobleman, 
whose  quick  repartees  on  other  occasions  had  been 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  &ALFARACHE.      159 

much  admired  at  Court,  now  stood  confused,  either 
because  he  felt  too  violently  the  emotions  of  love,  or 
under  restraint  in  the  presence  of  the  queen.  He 
replied  only  to  Daraxa,  that  whatever  misfortunes 
might  befall  him  he  should  consider  himself  but  too 
happy  under  them  if  he  might  presume  to  call  himself 
her  champion,  and  that  the  object  of  his  visit  was  to 
solicit  this  honour.  "  This  is  a  favour  never  refused 
in  this  country,"  said  the  queen,  desirous  of  keeping 
up  the  conversation  to  gratify  Zuniga,  "  and  Daraxa 
will  surely  find  more  reasons  than  one  for  granting 
this  request."  "  Madam,"  answered  the  beautiful 
Moor,  "  I  should  be  well  content  to  have  for  my 
champion  a  man  of  Don  Alonso's  high  birth  and 
accomplishments;  but  if  the  laws  of  chivalry  are  the 
same  among  the  Christians  as  with  us  Moors,  how 
can  I  thus  strongly  interest  myself  in  favour  of  a 
warrior  who  bears  arms  against  my  country? " 

Although  the  queen  felt  the  force  of  this  reply 
she  did  not  therefore  conclude  here,  but  represented 
to  her  fair  prisoner  that  this  was  a  particular  case ; 
that  she  need  have  no  scruple  in  feeling  an  interest 
and  participating  in  the  glory  and  fortune  of  a  cavalier 
to  whom  she  was  under  such  obligations  as  would  be 
more  than  a  sufficient  excuse  for  her;  and  that  she 
would  thereby  engage  Don  Alonso  to  treat  the  Moors 
that  might  fall  into  his  power  more  kindly.  Zuniga 
was  overjoyed  to  find  the  queen  espouse  his  cause 
with  so  much  earnestness ;  and  Daraxa,  fearing  that 
she  might  betray  herself  if  she  persisted  in  refusing 
the  queen's  request,  thought  it  more  advisable  to 


160  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

make  no  further  answer,  since  silence  must  imply 
that  she  did  not  object  to  what  was  desired  of  her. 

"  This  will  not  suffice,"  continued  the  queen,  who 
was  determined  to  finish  the  matter,  "  for  when  any 
lady  amongst  us  makes  choice  of  a  particular  champion 
it  is  usual  to  bestow  on  him  some  token  of  her  pre- 
ference, such  as  a  scarf,  her  portrait,  a  handkerchief, 
a  ribbon,  or  the  like."  This  was  likewise  a  custom 
among  the  Moors,  but  Daraxa  did  not  wish  to  engage 
herself  so  far;  as,  however,  the  desires  of  the  queen 
were  laws  to  her,  she  presented  Don  Alonso  with  a 
knot  of  ribbon  which  she  wore  on  her  head  inter- 
woven in  the  Moorish  fashion.  Zuniga  received  this 
gift  with  bended  knees,  and  kissing  the  hand  that 
bestowed  it,  as  lovers  were  wont  to  do  in  those  days, 
he  swore  never  to  do  anything  to  render  himself  un- 
worthy his  mistress'  favour.  After  this  ceremony 
the  queen,  who  was  exceedingly  pleased  at  the  sight, 
told  Don  Alonso  that  she  doubted  not  he  would  soon 
signalise  himself  by  such  feats  of  arms  as  would  evince 
that  he  was  well  deserving  of  the  honour  that  had 
just  been  conferred  on  him.  He  answered  that  he 
must  be  dependent  on  fortune  to  furnish  him  with 
opportunities,  and  that  it  should  not  be  the  fault  of 
his  heart  if  he  neglected  them  or  if  they  terminated 
unfortunately  for  him. 

After  having  thus  spoken  he  returned  her  Majesty 
thanks  for  all  her  kindness;  then,  addressing  himself  to 
the  beautiful  Moor,  he  implored  her  to  deign  some- 
times to  bestow  a  thought  on  a  cavalier  whose  only- 
glory  was  to  serve  his  Catholic  Majesty  and  to  render 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.     161 

himself  worthy  of  her  esteem.    After  this  he  departed 
for  the  army. 

Upon  his  arrival  at  the  camp,  he  learned  that  King 
Ferdinand  and  King  Mahomet  had  had  an  interview, 
that  Baza  had  capitulated,  and  that  it  was  stipulated 
in  the  articles  that  all  prisoners  made  during  the  siege 
should  be  restored  on  both  sides.  This  news  afflicted 
the  amorous  Don  Alonso,  who  from  that  moment 
believed  himself  debarred  from  the  sight  of  the  object 
of  his  affection ;  but  the  queen,  who  appeared  to  have 
undertaken  to  complete  the  happiness  of  this  cavalier, 
could  not  make  up  her  mind  to  think  of  ever  parting 
with  Daraxa,  for  whom  she  had  conceived  so  sincere 
a  friendship  that  she  coulcl  scarcely  have  lived  with- 
out her  company.  The  Moorish  governor,  her  father, 
applied  for  her  return  in  the  most  urgent  manner,  but 
the  queen  wrote  to  him  in  such  kind  and  pressing 
terms,  requesting  him  to  allow  his  daughter  to  remain 
with  her,  that,  notwithstanding  the  excess  ofchis  love 
for  her,  he  could  not  refuse  to  grant  such  a  request, 
well  persuaded  that  he  should  not  have  reason  to 
repent  of  his  complaisance. 

The  campaign  being  thus  ended,  the  king  resolved 
to  pass  the  winter  at  Seville.  He  wrote  to  the 
queen  to  this  effect,  who  accordingly  repaired  there 
two  or  three  days  before  he  arrived.  Never  had  the 
court  of  that  monarch  been  more  magnificent,  the 
lords  endeavoured  to  eclipse  each  other  in  splendour, 
and  no  expense  was  spared  to  make  a  brilliant  figure. 
Don  Alonso,  who  was  one  of  the  richest  amongst 
them,  and  whose  absence  had  only  served  to  increase 

VOL.  I.  L 


1 62  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

his  love,  spared  nothing  to  make  his  equipage  and 
train  worthy  of  the  Champion  of  the  beautiful  Moor, 
which  title  he  had  given  himself,  and  upon  which  he 
much  prided  himself  at  Court,  and  the  knot  of  rib- 
bon he  had  received  from  that  lady  was  elegantly 
attached  to  his  breast. 

All  this,  however,  signified  little  with  Daraxa,  who 
treated  him  with  the  same  indifference  as  the  other 
lords  who  had  professed  themselves  her  lovers,  among 
whom  were  Don  Roderigo  de  Padilla,  Don  Juan 
d'Alsenna,  and  Don  Diego  de  Castro.  The  only 
advantage  that  Don  Alonso  had  over  his  rivals  was 
that  he  was  permitted  to  visit  and  converse  with  his 
mistress  more  frequently  than  the  others ;  for  which 
he  was  indebted  to  the  queen's  kindness,  who, 
ardently  wishing  to  make  the  fair  Moor  a  Christian, 
that  she  might  marry  and  retain  her  at  Court,  had 
fixed  upon  him  as  the  most  advantageous  match  for 
her. 

The  queen  tried  every  means  to  prevail  upon  her 
to  change  her  religion.  One  day  she  said  to  her, 
"  My  dear  Daraxa,  I  have  a  great  curiosity  and 
wish  to  see  you  dressed  in  a  Spanish  habit;  as  I 
think  that  dress  will  become  your  beauty  better  than 
your  own,  and  as  I  will  make  you  a  present  of  one  I 
have  myself  worn  I  am  sure  you  will  try  it  on  to 
oblige  me."  The  queen  hoped  by  this  means  to 
influence  her  mind  by  degrees.  Daraxa,  who  was 
well  pleased  with  the  dress  of  the  Spanish  women, 
and  rejoiced  at  being  able  to  please  her  Majesty, 
willingly  consented  to  afford  her  that  satisfaction. 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHB.     163 

Whjn  she  first  made  her  appearance  in  her  new 
dress,  the  king  and  the  whole  Court  were  delighted, 
and  she  completely  eclipsed  the  numerous  beauties 
that  had  hitherto  charmed  them.  What  jealousies 
and  infidelities  did  she  not  cause !  for,  in  proportion 
as  she  pleased  the  men,  she  became  the  envy  of  the 
women,  who  of  course  discovered  more  imperfections 
than  charms  in  her. 

Although  she  was  not  unconscious  of  the  envy 
that  she  occasioned,  she  was  rather  vexed  at  it  than 
conceited,  and  even  became  careless  in  her  dress. 
The  queen  sometimes  quarrelled  with  her  on  this 
subject,  and  sent  her  daily  new  ornaments  to  prevail 
upon  her  to  take  more  pains  with  her  person ;  but 
she  dressed  herself  once  or  twice  with  these  and 
thought  of  them  no  more.  Every  one  was  surprised 
to  observe  that  she  was  plunged  in  a  profound 
melancholy,  which  nothing  could  dispel.  She  sought 
to  be  alone,  and  was  often  surprised  in  tears,  the 
report  of  which  much  affected  the  queen,  who,  how- 
ever, considered  that  she  was  only  unhappy  at  being 
so  far  from  her  relations,  and  that  her  sadness  would 
soon  be  at  an  end. 

The  king,  wishing  to  contribute  towards  diverting 
his  illustrious  prisoner,  as  well  as  the  numerous 
officers  who  had  served  under  him  so  ably  in  the  late 
campaign,  proposed  a  solemn  bull-fight,  and  the 
sports  of  canes,  in  some  places  called  carousals.  The 
day  fixed  on  for  these  amusements  was  proclaimed, 
that  such  cavaliers  as  chose  might  prepare  for 
them. 


164  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

It  is  now  time  that  I  should  inform  you  of  the 
cause  of  the  melancholy  of  the  beautiful  Moor.  She 
was  enamoured  of  a  young  nobleman  of  Granada, 
who  was  descended,  as  she  herself  was,  from  Moorish 
kings,  and  whose  valour  had  been  proved  on  several 
occasions.  He  was  possessed  of  the  most  amiable 
personal  qualities;  in  short,  he  was  one  of  the  most 
accomplished  cavaliers  at  the  Court  of  Granada. 
His  name  was  Ozmin.  They  had  been  attached  to 
each  other  from  their  infancy,  and  their  fathers,  who 
were  most  intimate  friends,  had  resolved  to  preserve 
their  amity  indissoluble  by  marriage.  On  the  eve  of 
these  nuptials,  when  Ozmin,  who  was  at  Granada, 
was  expected  at  Baza  to  celebrate  them,  Ferdinand 
suddenly  besieged  this  place  with  so  much  secrecy 
and  precaution,  that  there  was  not  the  slightest 
suspicion  of  it  at  the  Court  of  King  Mahomet. 

Upon  hearing  this  news,  so  important  to  the 
Moors,  Ozmin,  incited  by  love  and  glory,  undertook 
to  enter  Baza,  where  he  was  expected,  at  the  head  of 
two  hundred  men,  who  for  the  most  part  consisted  of 
such  of  his  friends  and  dependants  as  were  willing  to 
follow  his  fortune  and  serve  their  king.  They  met 
with  two  parties  in  less  than  three  hours  and  defeated 
them;  but  a  third  party,  consisting  of  six  hundred 
men,  fell  upon  them  within  half  a  league  of  the  town, 
calling  to  them  to  surrender  if  they  expected  quarter. 
Ozmin,  not  alarmed  at  the  inequality  of  numbers, 
formed  his  men  into  a  squadron,  placing  his  wounded 
in  the  centre;  then  rushing  on  the  enemy  in  as 
vigorous  a  manner  as  if  he  had  not  met  with  the 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      16$ 

two  former  detachments,  he  kept  the  victory  doubt- 
ful during  two  hours.  Already  more  than  half  on  the 
side  of  the  Christians  were  disabled,  and  the  rest  so 
disordered  as  to  be  almost  ready  for  flight,  when  a 
reinforcement  of  two  hundred  men  came  in  very 
apropos  to  their  relief.  This  completely  turned  the 
scale,  and  Ozmin,  wounded  in  three  several  parts, 
thought  now  of  nothing  but  to  save  the  rest  of  his 
men  by  retreating,  which  he  did  in  so  good  order 
and  with  such  fortunate  stands  that  the  Christians 
soon  thought  fit  to  give  over  their  pursuit  of  them. 
He  got  back  to  Granada  with  a  hundred  and  ten 
men,  of  whom  twelve  only  were  not  wounded. 

This  skirmish  was  accounted  one  of  the  most 
valiant  exploits  that  had  been  ever  known,  and  the 
name  of  Ozmin  became  famous  among  the  Christian 
troops.  Having  got  home  he  was  obliged  to  confine 
himself  to  his  bed.  King  Mahomet,  his  kinsman, 
delighted  by  the  glory  that  he  had  acquired  by  so 
brilliant  an  action,  was  not  content  with  bestowing 
his  praise  upon  him,  but  did  him  the  honour  of  a 
visit,  as  a  proof  of  the  high  sense  he  entertained  of 
his  valour;  but  what  completed  his  joy  was  a  letter 
he  received  from  his  dear  Daraxa,  wherein  she 
desired  him  to  pay  more  regard  to  his  wounds  than 
to  the  honour  they  obtained  him,  that  she  valued 
the  lover  in  him  more  than  the  hero,  and  concluded 
by  exhorting  him  to  take  more  care  of  himself  for 
the  future.  With  this  letter  she  sent  him  a  large 
handkerchief,  embroidered  after  the  Moorish  manner, 
of  her  own  work,  which  was  the  more  gratifying  to 


166  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

her  lover,  as  it  was  the  first  present  she  had  hitherto 
made  him. 

The  brave  Ozmin  was  extremely  impatient  to  be 
cured  of  his  wounds,  in  order  to  make  a  second 
attempt  to  get  into  Baza,  for  he  could  no  longer 
exist  without  the  company  of  his  future  wife.  The 
governor  of  the  place  having  notice  of  his  design, 
found  means  to  caution  him  against  making  a  second 
attempt  by  force  of  arms,  the  passes  being  too  well 
guarded  to  afford  any  hopes  of  success.  He  advised 
him  to  dress  himself  in  a  Spanish  habit,  and  set  out 
on  a  particular  night,  which  they  would  agree  on 
between  them,  so  as  to  arrive  the  next  morning  at 
break  of  day  near  to  Baza,  which  he  might  thence 
enter  under  shelter  of  a  sally  that  should  be  made 
expressly  for  that  purpose.  The  governor  sent  him 
these  letters  and  received  his  answers  to  them  by  a 
faithful  servant  of  Ozmin's,  whose  name  was  Orviedo, 
who,  having  been  fourteen  years  a  prisoner  among 
the  Christians,  knew  their  manners  and  spoke  their 
language  so  well  that  he  might  well  have  passed  for 
a  Spaniard ;  in  addition  to  this,  he  was  a  sharp  and 
cunning  fellow,  and  was  well  acquainted  with  the 
roads. 

As  soon  as  Ozmin  was  sufficiently  recovered  to  put 
this  project  in  execution  he  set  out  for  Granada  on 
the  night  appointed,  followed  by  Orviedo  only,  both 
disguised  in  Spanish  dresses.  Though  they  were  well 
mounted,  they  were  obliged  to  take  so  many  out-of- 
the-way  roads  to  avoid  the  Christian  parties  and 
guarded  passes,  that  day  had  already  appeared  before 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      167 

they  arrived  within  a  league  of  Baza.  As  they 
advanced  they  observed  clouds  of  dust,  and  soon  per- 
ceived the  Christian  troops  so  much  in  motion  on  all 
sides  that  they  felt  well  assured  there  would  be  a  very 
decisive  action  that  day ;  it  was,  in  fact,  the  very  day 
on  which  Don  Alonso  carried  off  the  beautiful  Moor. 
Our  two  travellers  entered  into  a  wood,  where  they 
came  to  a  stand,  fearing  lest  they  should  precipitate 
themselves  into  some  inextricable  difficulty;  and 
Orviedo,  as  a  warrior  used  to  find  expedients  suitable 
to  such  conjunctures,  said  to  his  master,  "  My  lord,  if 
you  will  take  my  advice  you  will  remain  here  in  con- 
cealment while  I  go  forward  alone  and  on  foot  to 
reconnoitre  the  motions  of  the  Christians,  and  use 
every  art  to  get  into  the  town  and  acquaint  the 
governor  where  you  are  staying.  If  I  do  not  rejoin 
you  in  two  hours,  you  may  take  it  for  granted  I  have 
got  into  the  town,  and  that  everything  shall  be  pre- 
pared to  receive  you." 

Ozmin  approved  of  this  advice,  and  Orviedo,  having 
tied  his  horse  to  a  tree,  walked  on  towards  Baza.  His 
master,  in  spite  of  the  violent  feelings  which  agitated 
him,  waited  patiently  for  above  two  hours;  after 
which,  considering  that  it  was  time  to  advance  to- 
wards the  town,  and  that  according  to  what  Orviedo 
had  said  he  should  meet  with  people  ready  to  second 
his  intentions,  he  pushed  on  by  the  shortest  road 
until  he  arrived  within  a  quarter  of  a  league  of  the 
town,  when  on  a  sudden  he  discovered  a  troop  of 
Moors  riding  up  to  him  at  full  speed.  He  thought 
that  this  was  the  sally  made  in  his  favour,  but  he  was 


168  MATO  ALEMAN. 


quickly  and  not  very  agreeably  undeceived.  As  they 
took  him  fora/Christian  from  his  Andalusian  habit, 
they  fired  upon  him,  and  would  undoubtedly  have 
killed  him  if  by  good  luck  the  officer  at  their  head, 
t»>  whom  he  called,  had  not  recognised  his  voice.  If 
this  troop  was  surprised  at  the  sight  of  him,  he  was 
not  less  astonished  when  he  understood  that  the  whole 
Christian  army,  commanded  by  Ferdinand  in  person, 
had  fallen  upon  two  or  three  thousand  men  who  had 
sallied  from  the  town  ;  that  after  a  violent  action,  in 
which  most  of  the  Moors  had  perished,  the  enemy, 
pursuing  the  rest  to  the  suburbs,  had  entered  it  pell- 
mell  with  them,  and  had  taken  possession  of  it;  in 
short,  that  he  must  not  flatter  himself  with  the  idea 
of  entering  the  town,  to  attempt  it  being  certain 
death  or  captivity.  Ozmin,  afflicted  beyond  measure 
at  this  intelligence,  and  still  more  so  at  the  necessity 
of  thinking  of  saving  himself  with  the  rest,  formed  a 
body  of  these  fugitives  of  about  three  hundred  men, 
and  returned  with  them  to  Granada,  more  mortified 
than  the  first  time  at  the  ill  success  of  his  enterprise. 
This  sad  news  much  alarmed  King  Mahomet,  who 
thinking  justly  that  the  garrison  of  Baza  must  be 
much  weakened  after  such  an  action,  despaired  of 
being  able  to  relieve  the  place,  which  appeared  to 
him  on  the  point  of  being  taken  ;  and  what  made 
him  more  uneasy  was  that,  after  losing  this  town, 
there  would  be  no  other  able  to  endure  a  siege  but 
Granada,  the  capital  of  his  kingdom  and  his  last 
refuge.  All  the  Moorish  Court,  after  its  king's 
example,  was  filled  with  grief. 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.     169 

As  for  Ozmin,  his  grief  is  not  to  be  described ;  but 
soon  after  his  return  to  Granada,  having  learned  that 
the  Christians  who  had  entered  the  suburbs  of  Baza  with 
the  Moors  had  been  obliged  to  abandon  the  town,  he 
felt  somewhat  reanimated  and  resolved  to  try  his  fate  a 
third  time.  But  just  as  he  was  ready  to  set  out,  Orviedo, 
his  faithful  squire,  arrived  from  that  city  charged  with 
a  packet  from  the  governor  for  the  king  and  a  letter 
for  Ozmin,  in  which  he  was  made  acquainted  with 
the  misfortune  which  had  befallen  his  Daraxa. 

The  perusal  of  this  sad  intelligence  acted  like  a 
thunderbolt  on  the  amorous  Ozmin;  at  first  he  stood 
for  some  time  motionless,  and  when  he  had  at  length 
recovered  his  senses  it  was  only  to  abandon  himself 
to  the  most  violent  agonies  of  mind,  accompanied  by 
sobbings  and  convulsions.  When  this  paroxysm  had 
subsided,  he  was  in  such  a  condition  that  he  had  not 
even  power  left  for  lamentation ;  a  fever  seized  him, 
his  strength  failed  him,  and  his  death  was  hourly 
expected ;  but  Love,  that  great  and  learned  doctor, 
especially  in  disorders  occasioned  by  himself,  suddenly 
called  him  to  life  by  inspiring  a  project  calculated  to 
console  him  and  easy  to  be  put  in  execution.  From 
that  moment  he  began  visibly  to  recover;  he  regained 
his  strength  and  was  soon  restored  to  perfect  health. 

Baza  had  been  surrendered.  It  was  well  known 
that  the  Catholic  king  held  his  Court  at  Seville,  and 
that  it  was  his  intention  to  pass  the  winter  there  with 
the  queen.  Ozmin,  not  doubting  that  Daraxa  was 
highly  in  favour  with  that  princess,  resolved  to  repair 
to  that  city  with  Orviedo,  both  disguised  as  Anda- 


170  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

lusian  gentlemen ;  for,  besides  that  they  both  spoke 
the  Castilian  language  so  well  that  it  would  be 
difficult  to  discover  that  they  were  Moors,  he  felt 
persuaded  that  they  should  not  attract  the  least 
notice  in  a  town  which  must  needs  be  in  the  greatest 
confusion.  He  communicated  his  new  project  to 
Orviedo,  whose  natural  disposition  was  enterprising, 
and  who  never  threw  difficulties  in  the  way ;  and  the 
master  and  squire  accordingly  set  out  one  night  from 
Granada  in  the  most  private  manner,  mounted  upon 
horses  not  inferior  in  their  paces  and  speed  to  the 
most  famous  coursers  of  the  Paladins,  with  a  consider- 
able quantity  of  jewels  and  several  purses  of  gold, 
which  they  did  not  forget  to  providje  themselves  with. 
They  expected  to  meet  with  some  awkward  ren- 
contre in  passing  through  the  places  where  the 
Christian  troops  were  posted,  and  they  were  not 
deceived  in  their  expectation.  The  next  day,  within 
a  league  of  Loxa,  they  unluckily  fell  in  with  the 
grand  provost  of  the  army  with  his  horsemen,  who 
were  in  pursuit  of  deserters.  He  examined  our  two 
travellers,  who  though  they  had  not  indeed  much 
appearance  of  such  as  he  was  in  search  of,  yet,  as  they 
seemed  too  well  mounted  for  persons  who  were  plainly 
dressed,  he  stopped  them  and  inquired  whence  they 
came  and  whither  they  were  going.  Orviedo  replied 
that  they  were  of  the  Marquis  of  Astorgas'  division, 
and  that  important  business  called  them  to  Seville. 
Upon  this  the  provost  required  to  see  their  furlough, 
and  as  they  were  not  able  to  produce  this,  he  deter- 
mined to  conduct  them  back  to  the  post  from  whence 


THE  LIFE  OF  G  UZMA  N  D'A  LFA  RA  CHE.     i ^  \ 

they  said  they  came.  By  way  of  substitute  for  this 
furlough,  however,  Ozmin  drew  from  one  of  his 
fingers  a  very  fine  diamond  ring,  which  he  presented 
to  the  provost,  who  was  so  charmed  with  the  present 
that  he  not  only  made  a  thousand  apologies  for  having 
stopped  them  on  their  journey,  but  insisted  upon 
accompanying  them  to  Loxa,  to  show  that  he  under- 
stood good  manners  and  had  a  grateful  heart. 

They  arrived  at  Seville  without  meeting  with  any 
other  adventure,  and  took  up  their  lodgings  in  the 
suburbs  beyond  the  river  Guadalquiver,  which, 
although  the  most  remote  and  obscure  part  of  the 
town,  was  at  that  time  so  thronged  with  persons  of 
all  qualities  and  their  equipages  that  tliey  were 
fortunate  in  obtaining  any  accommodation  at  all, 
which  was  not  to  be  wondered  at,  it  being  only  a 
few  days  before  the  combat  of  bulls,  when  every  one 
was  busied  in  the  magnificent  preparations  that  were 
making  for  these  diversions.  Our  Moors  had  only 
to  listen  to  the  conversation  of  the  servants  of  the 
numerous  noblemen,  with  whom  their  inn  was  filled, 
as  well  as  all  the  rest  in  the  town,  to  be  perfectly  well 
informed  of  whatever  was  going  on  at  the  Court. 

By  these  means  Ozmin  learned  more  than  he 
wished  to  know.  They  informed  him,  among  other 
things,  that  Don  Alonso  styled  himself  the  knight 
of  the  beautiful  Moor;  that  Daraxa  had  several  other 
lovers,  but  that  Don  Alonso  had  the  advantage  over 
all  his  rivals ;  and  that  if  that  lady  embraced  Chris- 
tianity, as  was  expected,  it  was  confidently  reported 
that  he  would  marry  her.  To  complete  his  torments, 


1 72  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

the  lively  description  they  gave  of  this  cavalier  wa§ 
sufficient  to  agonise  so  nice  and  passionate  a  lover  as 
the  wretched  Ozmin;  and  had  it  not  been  for  Orviedo 
he  must  certainly  have  relapsed  into  those  ravings 
which  had  before  brought  him  so  near  the  grave. 
This  faithful  squire  recovered  him  by  degrees  by 
representing  to  him  that  he  wronged  Daraxa  by  such 
alarms,  who  loved  him  too  well  to  be  faithless  to- 
wards him  ;  that  as  for  the  rest,  it  was  not  surprising 
that  so  lovely  a  person  should  have  inspired  many 
with  love  in  a  Court  celebrated  for  gallantry.  Orviedo 
completely  succeeded  in  calming  the  agitation  of  his 
master's  mind  by  reminding  him  that  the  approach- 
ing diversions  would  furnish  a  good  opportunity  for 
himself  to  judge  of  the  merit  of  his  rivals,  as  well  as 
how  Daraxa  conducted  herself  towards  them,  and 
that  he  could  take  his  future  measures  accordingly. 
Ozmin  yielded  to  his  reasonings,  and  determined  to 
observe  Daraxa  attentively;  at  the  same  time,  to 
show  her  the  difference  between  his  rivals  and  him- 
self, and  to  signalise  himself  by  his  strength  and 
dexterity  in  the  presence  of  the  whole  of  the  Catholic 
Court,  he  resolved  to  enter  the  lists  at  the  combat  of 
bulls.  He  enjoined  Orviedo  to  prepare  everything 
that  would  be  necessary  for  that  exercise,  invented 
by  the  Moors,  and  at  which  Ozmin  was  universally 
acknowledged  to  be  the  most  expert  in  their  nation. 
The  day  of  the  solemnity  at  last  arrived.  Never 
had  so  much  magnificence  been  seen;  everything 
was  in  order  early  in  the  morning ;  rich  ornaments 
and  fine  tapestries  lined  the  streets  through  which 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.     173 

Ferdinand  and  Isabella  were  to  pass  with  their  Court 
on  their  way  to  the  great  square  appropriated  to  the 
diversions.  Here  was  assembled  a  complete  crowd 
of  people  of  every  description  seated  on  benches  fixed 
round  about  as  in  an  amphitheatre;  and  on  all  sides 
were  to  be  seen  an  infinite  number  of  ladies  and 
gentlemen  most  superbly  dressed,  crowding  the  win- 
dows and  balconies,  so  that  even  the  spectators 
formed  a  gratifying  sight. 

About  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the  king 
and  queen  took  their  places  in  their  balcony;  in 
another,  at  the  side  of  this,  sat  the  beautiful  Moor, 
accompanied  by  many  ladies  and  several  old  lords, 
who,  being  no  longer  vigorous  in  these  sports,  found 
themselves  obliged  to  resign  the  honour  of  the  com- 
bats to  the  younger  noblemen.  The  sports  began, 
as  usual,  by  the  combat  of  bulls.  They  turned  loose 
one  at  first,  who,  not  being  one  of  the  most  savage, 
was  quickly  brought  to  the  ground. 

Our  two  Moors  were  already  at  the  place;  they 
kept  on  the  outside  of  the  square,  among  many  other 
persons  on  horseback,  to  see  how  the  Christians 
managed  these  diversions.  It  need  not  be  asked 
whether  Ozmin  looked  about  impatiently  for  his 
mistress,  whom  he  soon  distinguished ;  but  how 
great  his  surprise,  and  what  fatal  presages  did  he 
form,  when  he  perceived  that  she  was  dressed  in  a 
Spanish  habit.  Nevertheless,  though  he  could  but 
see  her  from  afar  off,  he  could  not  avoid  remarking  a 
certain  sadness  in  her  countenance;  in  fact,  she  felt 
so  little  interest  in  these  diversions,  that  an  express 


174 


MATEO  ALEMAN. 


desire  of  the  queen  had  been  necessary  to  oblige  her 
to  dress  herself  suitably  to  the  occasion,  and  notwith- 
standing which  she  had  taken  but  little  pains  to 
adorn  herself.  With  her  elbow  leaning  on  the  balcony, 
and  her  head  reclining  on  her  hand,  her  eye  wandered 
on  all  sides  with  indifference,  or  rather  her  mind  was 
so  abstracted  from  the  sights  before  her,  that  she  saw 
nothing  at  all. 

Although  this  melancholy  appearance  admitted  of 
different  interpretations,  Ozmin,  through  some  re- 
mains of  hope,  explained  it  in  his  own  favour,  and 
felt  a  secret  pleasure  on  that  account,  of  which 
refined  lovers  only  are  susceptible.  While  he  was 
thus  occupied  in  observing  Daraxa  with  attention, 
the  shouts  of  the  spectators  at  seeing  the  second 
bull  turned  out,  much  stronger  and  more  vicious 
than  the  first,  obliged  him,  at  length,  to  withdraw 
his  attention,  which  had  been  so  long  fixed  on  her 
balcony.  He  looked  round  the  square  and  observed 
that  the  bull  gave  full  employment  to  the  cavaliers 
that  opposed  him ;  but  as  he  did  not  wish  to  show 
what  he  could  perform  until  after  the  death  of  this 
second  bull,  it  much  surprised  the  spectators  that 
were  round  about  them  that,  though  Orviedo  and  he 
were  superbly  equipped,  they  appeared  to  have  no 
intention  of  venturing  within  the  square.  "  For  what 
possible  reason,"  said  they  aloud  one  to  another, 
"are  these  two  champions  standing  here  without  the 
lists?  Are  they  only  come  here  to  see  the  sports? 
Dare  they  not  enter  ?  Are  they  afraid  of  the  bull's 
horns?  Do  they  carry  a  lance  only  to  lend  it  to 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  &ALFARACHE.      175 

some  cavalier  more  worthy  to  do  honour  to  himself 
with  it?" 

These  railleries,  so  usual  among  the  common 
people,  who  spare  nobody  on  such  occasions,  were 
heard  by  Ozmin  and  Orviedo  with  contempt;  all 
they  attended  to  was  the  issue  of  the  combat  of  the 
bull  which  was  then  in  the  square.  This  high-spirited 
animal  had  already  disabled  two  of  the  combatants, 
and  having  become  more  enraged  by  two  slight 
wounds  from  Don  Alonso,  he  avenged  himself  on 
his  horse,  which  he  laid  dead  on  the  spot;  but  just 
at  that  moment,  Don  Rodrigo  de  Padilla,  one  of  the 
strongest  of  all  the  combatants,  struck  the  bull  with 
such  force  that  another  blow  was  not  necessary  to 
despatch  him. 

A  third  bull  was  on  the  point  of  being  loosed, 
when  Ozmin,  who  perceived  it,  made  sign  to  Orviedo 
to  walk  up  to  the  bars  of  the  lists  and  desire  admis- 
sion ;  and  their  appearance  was  of  too  much  con- 
sequence for  this  to  be  refused  them.  No  sooner 
had  they  got  within  the  lists  than  every  eye  was 
turned  upon  them;  a  silent  admiration  prevailed 
throughout  the  place  for  a  considerable  time ;  every 
one  seemed  to  take  great  pleasure  in  considering  the 
splendour  of  their  arms,  the  tastefulness  of  their 
equipage,  and,  above  all,  their  noble  appearance  on 
horseback.  Ozmin,  especially,  attracted  the  observa- 
tion of  the  assembly  by  his  graceful  and  fashionable 
deportment.  Both  their  faces  were  covered  with 
blue  crape,  to  show  that  they  did  not  wish  to  be 
known.  The  squire  carried  his  master's  lance  in  a 


176  MATEO  ALEMAtt. 

different  manner  from  the  Spaniards;  and  Ozmin 
wore  round  his  left  arm  the  embroidered  handker- 
chief that  Daraxa  had  given  him,  which  was  a  gal- 
lantry quite  different  from  the  custom  in  Spain; 
from  which  it  was  concluded  that  if  they  were  not 
foreigners  they  at  least  wished  to  be  thought  so, 
but  that  they  were  Moors  was  not  even  suspected. 
Ferdinand  was  one  of  the  first  who  had  his  eyes  upon 
them,  and  he  pointed  them  out  to  the  queen,  who 
was  not  less  pleased  with  their  appearance.  All  the 
cavaliers  within  the  barrier  made  way  for  them  to 
pass,  and  conceived,  of  the  master  in  particular,  the 
most  advantageous  opinion. 

Daraxa  was  the  only  one  present  who  had  taken 
no  notice  of  these  new  champions,  and,  most  pro- 
bably, would  not  have  seen  them  at  all  if  the  old 
Don  Lewis,  Marquis  de  Padilla,  father  of  Don  Rod- 
rigo,  after  having  rallied  her  upon  her  pensive  and 
melancholy  humour,  had  not  obliged  her  at  last  to 
turn  her  head  that  way.  At  first  sight  of  these  two 
cavaliers  she  felt  a  slight  emotion,  which  she  could 
not  account  for;  their  foreign  air  excited  her 
curiosity  so  as  to  induce  her  to  ask  Don  Lewis  who 
they  were.  "  I  know  not,  madam,"  replied  he, 
"  nor  is  the  king  himself  able  to  learn."  In  the 
meantime  Ozmin  approached  the  balcony  where  she 
was;  she  fixed  her  eyes  upon  the  handkerchief  that 
he  wore  upon  his  arm,  and  the  palpitation  of  her 
heart  at  the  moment  inspired  her  with  a  thousand 
thoughts.  She  could  not,  however,  yet  believe  that 
vt  could  be  the  same  handkerchief  she  had  sent  her 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      17? 

lover  when  he  was  wounded,  nor  that  it  was  that 
dear  lover  himself  who  now  stood  before  her  eyes ; 
but  as  he  stopped  opposite  to  her  balcony,  and  she 
had  full  leisure  to  observe  him  with  attention,  her 
heart  at  length  assured  her  that  it  could  be  no 
other. 

She  was  on  the  point  of  abandoning  herself  to  the 
most  excessive  joy,  when  the  third  bull,  who  since  he 
had  been  loose  had  completely  disordered  the  whole 
square,  came  up  and  interrupted  these  delightful 
moments  by  advancing  towards  Ozmin.  This  for- 
midable animal  was  one  of  the  Tarita  breed,  and  a 
more  enormous  beast  had  never  been  seen.  His 
frightful  bellowings  spread  terror  throughout  the 
place.  Though  he  had  no  need  to  be  irritated,  they 
did  not  therefore  omit  to  throw  stakes  at  him,  accord- 
ing to  custom,  which  so  excited  his  rage  that  Don 
Rodrigo,  Don  Alonso,  and  the  other  combatants  dared 
not  face  him  with  the  intrepidity  that  they  had  shown 
towards  the  two  others. 

This  terrible  beast  then  rushed  towards  Ozmin,  who 
at  that  moment  was  thinking  of  nothing  less  than 
preparing  to  defend  himself;  but  being  warned  of  his 
danger  by  Orviedo,  who  quickly  handed  him  his  lance, 
and  animated  by  the  sight  of  his  mistress,  he  boldly 
presented  himself  before  the  bull,  and  thrust  his  lance 
between  the  neck  and  shoulder  with  so  much  vigour 
that  he  left  him  nailed  to  the  earth  as  it  he  had  been 
btruck  down  by  a  thunderbolt,  with  more  than  half 
of  the  lance  through  his  body,  after  which  our 
champion  threw  the  broken  remainder,  which  was 

VOL.  I.  M 


I78  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

still  in  his  hand,  into  the  middle  of  the  square  and 
withdrew. 

So  bold  and  surprising  an  action  excited  the  admira- 
tion of  the  whole  Court  and  of  all  the  people,  the 
place  re-echoed  with  shouts  of  applause  and  acclama- 
tions ;  nothing  was  to  be  heard  for  a  full  quarter  of 
an  hour  but  "Long  live  the  Knight  of  the  Blue  Scarf, 
the  strongest  and  bravest  man  of  the  age."  While 
the  valour  of  Ozmin  was  being  thus  proclaimed  and 
celebrated,  the  timid  Daraxa,  whom  the  first  sight  of 
the  bull  had  filled  with  the  most  dreadful  apprehen- 
sions for  her  lover,  was  still  so  confounded  that  she 
thought  she  saw  the  animal  all  in  fury  before  her, 
but  the  acclamations  of  the  spectators  at  length  by 
degrees  brought  her  to  her  senses.  She  looked  in- 
stantly all  over  the  square  for  her  dear  Moor,  and 
not  perceiving  him  she  inquired  with  anxiety  what 
was  become  of  him,  and  he  was  pointed  out  to  her 
at  a  considerable  distance  from  the  lists,  and  followed 
by  a  crowd  of  people,  who  appeared  as  if  they  would 
never  be  tired  of  gazing  upon  a  man  who  had  so 
eminently  distinguished  himself. 

It  was  now  night,  and  the  square  in  an  instant 
shone  with  an  infinite  number  of  flambeaux,  which 
created  a  very  fine  illumination.  The  diversion  of 
the  sporting  spears  was  soon  to  begin.  Twelve 
squadrons  were  seen  advancing  with  their  trumpets, 
fifes,  and  kettledrums,  followed  by  their  livery  ser- 
vants, and  twelve  valets  laden  with  bundles  of  reeds 
made  into  sporting  spears.  The  led  horses  of  the 
knights  had  velvet  caparisons,  of  the  colour  of  the 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  &ALFARACHB.      179 

squadron  to  which  they  belonged,  embroidered  with 
gold  and  silver  and  the  arms  of  each  chief;  not  only 
gold  and  silver  glistened  in  their  equipages,  but  even 
jewels  were  not  spared.  They  entered  the  square  in 
the  following  order  : — 

The  equerries  of  every  chief  of  a  squadron  marched 
first,  conducting  the  equipages;  twelve  horses,  carry- 
ing at  their  foremost  saddlebows  the  arms  of  each 
knight,  and  at  their  hinder  their  devices,  came  next, 
followed  by  others  whose  caparisons  were  hung  with 
silver  bells,  which  made  a  loud  jingling.  The  foot- 
men in  livery  followed  the  horses;  they  marched 
completely  round  the  square,  and  went  out  by  a 
different  gate  from  that  at  which  they  entered,  to 
avoid  confusion.  The  quadrillos,  each  conducted  by 
their  chief,  then  entered  in  two  files  with  so  much 
grace  and  skill  that  they  charmed  all  the  spectators ; 
which  is  not  surprising,  since  the  most  accomplished 
cavaliers  for  these  sports  are  undoubtedly  those  of 
Seville,  Cordara,  and  Xeres  de  la  Frontera,  where 
even  children  of  eight  or  ten  years  of  age  are  seen  to 
manage  horses  and  manoeuvre  them  in  most  excel- 
lent style. 

When  the  quadrillos  had  exhibited  themselves  four 
times  round  the  square  they  retreated  by  the  same 
gate  as  their  equipages,  but  soon  returned  again  with 
their  shields  on  their  arms  and  their  sporting  spears 
in  their  hands.  They  began  their  combats  twelve 
against  twelve,  that  is  to  say,  one  quadrillo  against 
another.  Having  thus  fought  for  about  a  quarter 
of  an  hour,  two  other  squadrons  came  upon  different 


ifc>  MATEO  ALtitiAti. 

sides,  who,  under  pretence  of  parting  them,  began  a 
new  combat. 

In  the  meantime  Ozmin  and  On  iedo,  having  at 
length  escaped  from  the  crowd  of  people  that  had 
followed  them,  regained  their  inn,  and  having  dis- 
armed themselves  they  returned  to  the  place  of  sports, 
where  the  amorous  Ozmin,  pressing  through  the 
throng,  placed  himself  under  the  balcony  of  the 
beautiful  Moor.  As  he  was  now  but  plainly  dressed 
nobody  took  him  for  a  man  of  any  consequence, 
notwithstanding  his  noble  mien.  Daraxa,  who  felt 
assured  that  he  would  not  fail  to  appear  again  before 
her,  was  looking  all  around  for  him  ;  but  though  he 
was  so  d:isc  to  her,  and  was  gazing  at  her  with 
admiration,  she  did  not  perceive  him.  She  wn*  play- 
ins;  with  a  very  fine  nosegay,  adorned  with  ribbons, 
which  Don  Alonso  had  sent  her  in  the  morning ;  and 
this  nosegay  chanced  to  slip  out  of  her  hand  and  fell 
just  at  Ozmin's  feet,  who  hastened  to  take  it  up.  This 
accident  caused  the  lady  to  look  down,  and  she  re- 
cognised her  dear  Moor,  from  whom  she  did  not 
afterwards  turn  her  eyes ;  but,  perceiving  that  some 
of  the  people  that  stood  around  him  were  preparing 
to  oblige  him  to  restore  the  nosegay,  she  called  aloud 
to  them  to  let  him  keep  it,  adding  that  it  was  in  good 
hands.  This  having  put  an  end  to  the  dispute,  the 
happy  Ozmin,  having  become  peaceable  possessor  of 
a  favour  for  which  he  considered  he  was  indebted 
rather  to  chance  than  love,  fastened  it  by  way  of 
gallantry  to  his  hat. 

After  this  our  two  lovers  began  to  make  r/^ns 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      181 

other,  a  silent  but  very  common  language  amoncj  the 
Moors,  which  the  Spaniards  have  since  learned  of  them, 
as  well  as  very  many  other  fashions,  which  have  con- 
tributed to  establish  that  nation  as  the  most  gallant 
in  Europe.  Ozmin  and  his  mistress  discoursed  in 
this  manner  unnoticed  by  any  one,  all  the  spectators 
being  too  attentive  to  the  sports  to  observe  them. 
Besides,  who  could  imagine  that  the  beautiful  Moor, 
who  was  so  regardless  of  the  addresses  of  the  most 
accomplished  cavaliers  at  the  Court,  could  have 
found  among  the  populace  an  object  worthy  of  her 
attention  ? 

These  happy  moments  lasted  only  to  the  end  of 
the  sports  of  the  quadrillos,  which  were  no  sooner 
ended  than  the  last  bull,  which  was  not  less  ferocious 
than  that  which  had  been  killed  by  Ozmin,  was  let 
loose,  as  is  customary,  to  conclude  the  diversions. 
The  animal's  motions  when  he  was  first  loosed  suffi- 
ciently evinced  that  he  was  determined  to  sell  his  life 
dearly.  Don  Rodrigo  de  Padilla,  Don  Juan  de  Castro, 
Don  Alonso,  and  many  other  cavaliers  alighted  from 
their  horses,  anxious  to  excel  each  other  in  engaging 
this  beast  on  foot,  who  soon  made  two  or  three  among 
them  well  acquainted  with  the  hardness  of  his  horns. 
One  of  them  was  carried  off  half  dead,  which  rather 
moderated  the  ardour  of  the  rest. 

In  fact,  none  but  a  true  knight-errant  could  pos- 
sibly have  been  delighted  in  engaging  with  a  bull 
whose  very  appearance  was  terrific ;  he  foamed  with 
rage,  tore  up  the  earth  with  his  feet,  and  looked  at 
each  champion  as  if  undecided  on  whom  to  vent  his 


1 82  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

fury.  Don  Alonso,  nevertheless,  excited  by  his  love, 
was  desirous  of  signalising  himself  under  the  eyes 
of  the  beautiful  Moor  at  the  risk  of  his  life.  With 
this  view  he  advanced  towards  her  balcony,  to  be 
the  more  observed  by  her,  and  while  he  stood  thus 
in  expectation  of  the  animal's  approach  he  perceived 
Ozmin,  who  now  remained  alone  on  that  spot,  fear 
having  dispersed  the  crowd  which  had  before  sur- 
rounded him.  Daraxa  had  in  vain  endeavoured  by 
signs  to  prevail  on  him  to  follow  them,  or  at  least 
to  get  upon  a  scaffolding  hard  by ;  her  tears  had  not 
been  able  to  overcome  his  resolution,  the  conqueror 
of  the  bull  of  Tarita  would  have  considered  it  dis- 
honourable to  have  shown  himself  afraid  of  any 
other. 

Zuniga  took  particular  notice  of  this  cavalier,  or 
rather  of  the  nosegay  which  he  perceived  in  his  hat, 
and  which  he  easily  recognised  by  the  lieht  of  the 
flambeaux  with  which  the  whole  square  was  illumi- 
nated. He  was  not  a  little  surprised  at  what  he 
saw ;  but  to  be  more  certain  that  he  was  not  mis- 
taken he  addressed  himself  to  Ozmin,  who  appeared 
to  him  no  more  than  a  man  of  the  vulgar  order. 
"  Friend,"  said  he  to  him,  "  who  gave  you  that 
nosegay  ?  " 

Although  the  Moor  rightly  guessed  what  interest 
the  cavalier  who  spoke  to  him  might  feel  in  it,  he 
answered,  without  the  least  concern,  that  "  it  came 
to  him  very  fairly,  but  that  he  owed  it  to  Fortune 
only." 

"  I  know  but  too  well  whence  you  got  it,"  replied 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      183 

Don  Alonso,  raising  his  voice,  "  deliver  it  up  to  me 
immediately ;  it  was  not  made  for  you." 

"  I  grant  nothing  by  compulsion,"  rejoined  Ozmin, 
as  coolly  as  before. 

"  Once  more,"  said  Zuniga,  "  give  me  that  nose- 
gay, or  I  shall  let  you  know,  my  fine  fellow,  whom 
you  have  to  deal  with." 

"  I  regret  much,"  said  Ozmin,  somewhat  agitated, 
"  that  we  are  in  the  king's  presence ;  were  we  any- 
where else,  I  should  not  content  myself  with  refusing 
you  my  nosegay,  but  should  force  from  you  that 
knot  of  ribbon  which  I  perceive  at  your  bosom." 

This  was  the  very  same  knot  which  the  beautiful 
Moor  had  bestowed  on  Don  Alonso  when  she 
accepted  him  as  her  champion,  and  which  Ozmin, 
who  had  formerly  given  it  to  Daraxa,  knew  but  too 
well ;  perceiving  therefore  that  the  cavalier  who 
spoke  to  him  was  the  most  formidable  of  his  rivals, 
he  could  scarcely  restrain  his  rage  at  this  discovery. 

Don  Alonso,  still  more  violent  than  he,  lost  all 
patience  at  seeing  himself  threatened  by  a  man 
whom  he  considered  so  much  beneath  him  ;  calling 
him  therefore  an  insolent  fellow,  and  thrusting 
among  the  ribbons  of  his  nosegay  a  sharp-pointed 
stick,  such  as  the  champions  make  use  of  to  irritate 
the  bulls,  he  intended  to  have  carried  off  the  nosegay 
and  hat  together,  but  the  active  and  vigorous  Ozmin 
forced  the  stick  from  his  hand  as  from  a  child's. 

Who  can  express  the  rage  of  the  proud  Zuniga 
at  having  received  such  an  affront  under  the  eyes  of 
his  mistress  and  in  the  king's  presence!  He  was 


184  MATEO  ALE  MAN. 

no  longer  master  of  himself;  without  any  regard  to 
the  presence  of  their  Majesties,  he  drew  his  sword; 
but  at  the  very  instant  that  he  was  on  the  point  of 
rushing  like  a  lion  on  his  enemy,  who  on  his  side 
was  prepared  to  receive  him  without  fear,  the  bull 
came  suddenly  upon  them  and  obliged  them  to 
separate.  This  animal  attacked  Don  Alonso  and 
threw  him  by  one  toss  four  or  five  paces  off,  terribly 
wounded  in  the  thigh,  which  excited  the  greatest 
alarm  on  all  sides.  To  complete  the  misfortune  the 
beast,  more  enraged  than  ever,  would  not  quit  his 
victim,  but  was  preparing  to  return  to  the  charge; 
but  Ozmin,  from  a  generous  feeling  worthy  of  the 
warriors  of  those  times,  did  not  hesitate  to  fly  to  the 
assistance  of  his  rival,  notwithstanding  what  had  just 
passed  between  them.  With  the  very  stick  that  he 
had  wrenched  from  Don  Alonso  he  goaded  the  bull 
so  severely  that  he  turned  all  his  fury  against  him, 
and  bent  his  head  with  the  intention  of  goring  him 
with  his  horns.  The  Moor  took  advantage  of  the 
moment,  and  hitting  him  a  back  stroke  on  the  neck 
with  his  sword,  the  temper  of  which  he  could  rely 
on,  such  was  the  amazing  force  of  the  blow  that  the 
animal  fell  down  dead  upon  the  spot,  to  the  great 
astonishment  of  all  the  spectators. 

What  had  been  performed  by  the  Knight  of  the 
Blue  Scarf  passed  for  a  trifling  exploit  compared 
with  this,  which  the  disadvantage  of  fighting  on  foot 
rendered  the  more  glorious,  and  the  acclamations 
lasted  longer  than  before.  Ozmin  evaded  by  a  quick 
retreat  the  curiosity  of  such  as  wished  to  know  who 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  UALFARACHE.      183 

he  was.  The  king  in  vain  desired  to  see  him ;  he 
was  told  that  he  had  just  disappeared,  and  that 
nobody  knew  anything  respecting  him. 

Let  us  now  return  to  Daraxa.*  She  had  observed 
the  quarrel  of  the  two  rivals,  and  had  been  on  the 
point  of  preventing  any  fatal  consequences  by 
explaining  the  whole  affair  to  their  Majesties,  though 
at  the  risk  of  the  loss  of  her  lover's  liberty,  but  the 
terror  with  which  she  was  seized  on  seeing  the  furious 
bull  come  upon  them  so  suddenly  had  completely 
deprived  her  of  her  senses.  The  acclamations,  how- 
ever, which  were  renewed  around  her  restored  her  by 
degrees.  Thus  this  tender  lover  passed  successively 
from  joy  to  grief,  and  from  grief  to  joy;  and  thus  it 
is  that  love  ever  inflicts  some  troubles  even  amid  the 
transports  that  it  bestows. 

As  the  adventure  respecting  the  nosegay  had  com- 
menced just  under  the  place  where  the  queen  was 
seated,  it  had  not  escaped  her  notice,  and,  curious  to 
know  all  the  circumstances  of  it,  she  took  an  oppor- 
tunity the  very  same  evening  to  request  a  detail  of 
them  from  the  beautiful  Moor  and  Donna  Elvira  de 
Padilla,  who  had  been  together  during  the  solemnity. 
Daraxa,  thinking  it  more  prudent  to  allow  Elvira  to 
speak,  however  much  better  she  herself  might  have 
afforded  the  explanation,  said  that  she  had  paid  but 
little  attention  to  what  had  passed.  Donna  Elvira 
then  was  obliged  to  relate  what  she  had  heard  and 
seen,  but  her  recital  rather  heightened  than  satisfied 
the  queen's  curiosity;  no  sooner,  therefore,  was 
Don  Alonso  sufficiently  recovered  of  his  wound  to 


1 86  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

receive  visitors,  than  she  requested  the  old  Marqmi 
d'Astorgas  to  call  upon  him,  in  the  hope  of  obtain- 
ing from  him  the  information  she  desired.  The 
marquis,  who  was  a  pleasant  humorous  man,  was 
ushered  into  Don  Alonso's  chamber,  and  thus  ac- 
quitted himself  of  his  commission. 

"  Well,  Signor  Knight  without  fear,"  said  he  to 
Zuniga,  "  what  think  you  now  of  these  vile  horned 
animals,  who  have  so  little  respect  for  such  fine 
sparks  as  you  ?  You  will  allow  that  it  is  better  to 
have  nothing  to  do  with  them." 

"  You  could  have  informed  me  this  from  experi- 
ence long  since,"  replied  Don  Alonso,  smiling. 

"  But,"  continued  the  marquis  with  a  serious  air, 
"  will  you  not  inform  me  who  was  the  valiant  man 
that  advanced  so  apropos  to  your  rescue  ?  It  is  most 
surprising  that  amongst  all  the  heroes  of  our  Court 
there  was  not  one  sufficiently  your  friend  to  venture 
to  dispute  that  honour  with  him,  and  yet  it  is 
asserted  that  you  were  on  the  point  of  fighting  with 
this  noble  cavalier." 

"  I  know  better  than  anybody  my  obligations  to 
him,"  answered  Zuniga,  "  and  the  little  cause  I  had 
given  him  to  deliver  me  from  so  great  a  danger. 
All  that  I  regret,"  added  he,  "  is  that  I  do  not  know 
him ;  I  am  so  charmed  with  his  bravery,  and  his 
noble  behaviour  towards  me,  that  I  shall  never  be 
satisfied  until  I  have  found  some  means  of  ascertain- 
ing who  he  is,  and  of  convincing  him  of  my 
gratitude." 

"  If  this  be  all  that  you  have  to  tell  me,"  said  the 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      187 

marquis,  "  the  queen  will  not  gain  much  information 
by  having  sent  me  hither.  She  is  not  ignorant  of  the 
quarrel  that  you  had  with  the  stranger,  the  beautiful 
Moor  and  Donna  Elvira  having  explained  it  to  her; 
she  thought  that  you  would  be  able  to  satisfy  her 
more  fully  on  the  subject;  and  the  whole  Court,  as 
well  as  the  queen,  are  astonished  that  two  cavaliers, 
after  having  performed  two  such  glorious  actions, 
should  take  as  much  pains  to  conceal  themselves  as 
others  generally  take  to  make  themselves  known. 
Ferdinand  himself  is  anxious  that  they  should  come 
forward  and  receive  the  prizes  that  are  destined  for 
them,  and  especially  for  the  last,  who,  according  to  all 
appearance,  was  not  a  man  of  any  distinguished  rank." 

"  Judging  from  his  dress,"  cried  Don  Alonso,  "  I 
was  at  first  of  the  same  opinion,  but  I  feel  convinced 
of  my  mistake.  Whoever  he  be,  I  will  venture  to 
say  that  he  is  a  great  man,  and  I  can  say  no  more 
on  the  subject." 

The  Marquis  d'Astorgas,  finding  that  he  could  gain 
no  further  information  from  Zuniga,  returned  to  the 
queen. 

It  was  believed  at  Court  that  all  this  was  not  with- 
out mystery,  and  that  Don  Alonso,  in  return  for  the 
generosity  that  he  had  experienced,  wou1^  not  betray 
a  cavalier  who  wished  to  be  incognito.  As  for 
Daraxa,  nobody  suspected  that  she  was  at  all  privy  to 
the  matter;  and  the  concern  that  she  had  evinced 
during  the  sports  was  attributed  solely  to  the  mis- 
fortune of  Don  Alonso.  It  was  very  reasonably 
thought  that  she  was  kind  enough  to  feel  interested 


188  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

for  a  young  nobleman,  who  was  her  champion  as 
well  as  her  adorer.  She  enjoyed  in  private  the  un- 
divided pleasure  of  knowing  what  had  happened,  but 
this  happiness  was  accompanied  by  the  intrusion  of 
many  anxious  thoughts.  She  had  distinctly  heard 
what  Ozmin  had  said  to  his  rival  about  the  knot  of 
ribbon,  and  she  so  well  knew  the  delicate  feelings  of 
the  Moors  on  such  occasions  that  she  reproached  her- 
self with  imprudence  for  having  given  to  Zuniga  any- 
thing that  had  been  presented  to  her  by  so  dear  a 
hand.  She  could  find  no  excuse  for  having  com- 
mitted this  fault,  although  her  heart  had  no  partici- 
pation in  it.  She  could  not  write  to  Ozmin,  for  she 
knew  not  where  he  was  to  be  found ;  she  could  only 
hope  that  her  lover  would  find  some  means  or  other 
of  communicating  with  her.  Several  days  passed  in 
this  sweet  yet  painful  expectation ;  sometimes  she 
reflected  with  pleasure  that  her  future  husband  was 
in  the  same  city  as  herself,  and  at  other  times  was 
distractedly  impatient  to  see  him.  Time,  however, 
brings  everything  about. 

You  have  in  all  probability  walked  in  the  gardens 
of  the  palace  of  Seville,  and  know  which  is  called  the 
upper  and  which  the  lower  garden;  they  are  literally 
two  gardens,  one  above  the  other.  The  upper  one, 
which  is  supported  upon  arches,  is  upon  a  level  with 
the  first  floor  of  the  palace,  and  is  a  complete  flower 
garden ;  the  lower  garden,  which  is  the  larger  of  the 
two,  was  only  open  to  the  men  belonging  to  the 
Court,  who  were  permitted  to  walk  there  at  certain 
hours.  The  upper  garden  was  entirely  reserved  for 


THE  LIFE  OF  GVZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.     189 

the  ladies,  who  frequently  walked  there  to  show  them- 
selves to  the  gentlemen,  with  whom  they  occasionally 
conversed  over  the  balustrade  which  runs  about  elbow 
high  quite  round  the  garden ;  but  these  conversations 
were  only  permitted  when  the  king  and  queen  were 
absent,  in  their  presence  they  were  obliged  to  content 
themselves  with  signs.  Any  gentleman  was  per- 
mitted, however,  to  sing,  even  in  the  presence  of  their 
Majesties,  provided  he  possessed  a  fine  voice.  There 
were  also  occasionally  instrumental  concerts,  the 
execution  of  which  was  enchanting. 

One  evening  the  beautiful  Moor  was  walking  in 
this  garden  with  her  friend  Donna  Elvira.  They 
had  scarcely  taken  two  turns  before  they  heard  a 
man  singing  in  so  agreeable  a  strain  that  they  deter- 
mined to  listen.  They  concealed  themselves  behind 
some  orange-trees  that  grew  along  the  balustrade, 
directly  opposite  to  the  singer,  whom  they  could 
observe  without  being  seen  by  him.  Elvira  was  much 
struck  by  his  handsome  appearance,  and  Daraxa  re- 
cognised her  Ozmin.  Seated  on  a  bank  of  turf,  with 
his  head  reclining  negligently  against  a  tree,  he  sang 
the  following  verses  in  the  Castilian  language : — 

"  Wilt  thou,  stern  Jealousy  !  at  once  destroy 
My  life  and  love  with  unrelenting  doom  ? 
Why,  cruel  Fate,  this  last  sad  blow  employ 
To  sink  me  sorrowing  to  an  early  tomb  ? 
Absence  from  her  I  love  hath  been  the  source 
Of  daily  anxious  thought,  severe  to  bear  ; 
But  now  Inconstancy,  the  Lover's  curse, 
Clouds  all  my  hope  and  drives  me  to  despair.  *' 

Among  other  excellences  our  illustrious  Moor  was 


190  MATED  ALEMAN. 

a  most  accomplished  singer;  instead  of  priding  him- 
self, however,  upon  this  quality,  he  rather  strove  to 
conceal  it.  Many  of  the  cavaliers  at  the  Court  of 
Granada  speak  good  Spanish,  and  even  sing  in 
that  language;  there  were  even  many  Moors  who 
composed  verses  in  Castilian,  which  were  much 
admired  by  the  Spanish  poets.  Those  which  Ozmin 
had  just  been  singing  were  composed  by  a  Moorish 
author,  and  set  to  music  by  one  of  the  same  nation. 
Daraxa  doubted  not  that  it  alluded  to  herself,  and, 
being  unwilling  to  lose  the  opportunity  of  making  a 
reply,  she  tore  a  leaf  out  of  her  pocket-book,  upon 
which  she  wrote  the  following  words : — 

"  No  more  uneasiness  about  the  knot  of  ribbon,  the 
gift  was  made  without  the  participation  of  the  heart. 
Reassured  when  Daraxa  loves,  she  loves  but  once  in  her 
lifetime;  if  you  wish  to  know  more,  you  will  find 
Laida  at  the  palace  gate  at  nine  to-morrow  morning." 

Having  folded  this  leaf  up  carefully  she  threw  it 
into  the  lower  garden,  through  the  boughs  of  the 
orange-trees,  which  did  not  conceal  her  so  perfectly 
as  to  prevent  Ozmin  from  perceiving  her.  He  ob- 
served that  she  had  let  something  fall,  which  she  had 
done  so  cautiously  that  her  friend  had  not  in  the  least 
remarked  it,  who  was,  in  fact,  so  much  taken  up  with 
admiring  and  listening  to  the  singer  that  she  thought 
of  nothing  else.  No  sooner  had  he  finished  his  song 
than  she  called  to  him  to  begin  again  for  ladies'  sakes. 
This  request  he  would  willingly  have  complied  with, 
but  the  king  had  just  returned  from  hunting,  which 
obliged  Daraxa  and  her  friend  to  return  to  the  palace, 


THE  LIFE  OP  GU2M-AN  D'ALFARACHE.      191 

to  the  great  regret  of  the  latter,  who  did  not  feel  the 
least  desire  to  quit  the  spot. 

No  sooner  had  the  ladies  retired  than  Ozmin, 
curious  to  know  what  his  dear  Daraxa  had  thrown 
towards  him,  soon  found  the  folded  leaf  under  the 
spot  where  stiL'  had  stood  to  listen  to  his  singing, 
which  he  took  up  and  quitted  the  garden  hastily, 
congratulating  himself  on  his  good  fortune  and  con- 
sidering how  often  he  should  be  there  in  future. 

Daraxa's  billet  completely  restored  him  to  life,  and 
he  did  not  fail  to  despatch  Orviedo  the  next  morning 
to  the  palace  gate,  where  he  met  Laida,  who  was 
covered  with  a  thick  black  veil  to  prevent  her  being 
known.  As  soon  as  she  perceived  Orviedo,  she 
addressed  him,  gave  him  a  letter  from  her  mistress, 
and  received  one  from  Ozmin  in  return.  Before 
they  separated  they  had  together  a  conversation  long 
enough  to  enable  them  to  give  a  most  satisfactory 
account  to  both  the  lovers.  Ozmin's  letter  was  full 
of  complaints,  and  Daraxa's  of  protestations  of  fidelity 
and  love.  They  were,  however,  soon  appeased.  There 
is  certainly  a  voluptuous  pleasure  in  the  quarrels  of 
lovers  j  but  they  ought  not  to  last  long,  neither  should 
they  too  frequently  occur,  lest  they  produce  ill  effects. 

What  consolation  for  our  lovers  to  have  found 
means  to  establish  an  intercourse  by  letter,  and  even 
to  see  each  other  occasionally  !  Daraxa  would  gladly 
have  walked  alone  in  the  palace  gardens,  that  she 
might  have  conversed  more  freely  with  Ozmin,  but 
it  was  too  great  a  risk.  They  must  both  have  been 
inevitably  lost  if  any  person  had  discovered  them. 


I9j  MATEO  ALE  MAN. 

Besides  which,  the  sight  of  Ozmin  had  made  so  much 
impression  nn  Elvira  that  she  never  left  her  friend, 
and  talked  01"  nothing  but  the  cavalier  who  had  sung 
so  finely.  She  herself  proposed  to  her  fri.nd  the  very 
next  day  to  walk  in  the  garden,  in  the  hope  of  meeting 
him  there,  and  the  complaisant  Daraxa,  who  equally 
desired  it,  willingly  consented  to  accompany  her. 

They  left  the  palace  together,  and  upon  looking 
into  the  lower  garden  they  perceived  that  the  cavalier 
had  just  arrived  there,  and  was  seated  in  the  same 
place  as  the  day  preceding.  Donna  Elvira,  who  was 
one  of  the  most  lovely  women  at  Court,  was  not 
content  with  showing  herself,  but  obliged  her  friend 
to  do  the  same.  Ozmin  pretended  to  be  surprised  to 
see  them  and  was  about  to  retire,  but  Elvira  com- 
menced a  conversation  with  him  to  detain  him ;  he 
answered,  and  they  all  three  at  length  insensibly 
engaged  in  a  sprightly  discourse,  but  still  only  such 
as  a  stranger  could  hold  with  two  unknown  ladies. 

Ozmin  summoned  up  all  his  wit  on  the  occasion, 
and  Elvira's  shone  no  less.  Animated  by  the  emotions 
of  a  rising  passion  she  said  a  thousand  smart  things 
which  she  could  not  otherwise  have  thought  of, 
although  naturally  full  of  wit.  Daraxa  was  content 
to  listen  and  say  nothing.  In  short,  each  of  them 
was  well  pleased,  and  time  glided  away  with  the 
rapidity  usual  on  such  agreeable  occasions.  If  Ozmin 
did  not  find  it  tedious,  the  ladies  on  their  side  made 
it  sufficiently  evident  that  they  were  not  tired  of  his 
company,  for  the  king  had  already  returned  to  the 
palace,  and  they  had  not  once  thought  of  retiring. 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      193 

The  gardener  put  Ozmin  in  mind  that  it  was  time  to 
leave  the  garden ;  but  Elvira,  before  they  separated, 
fixed,  for  another  interview,  the  first  day  that  the  king 
went  bunting  acjain. 

After  this  conversation  Elvira  was  so  charmed  with 
Ozmin  that,  when  they  had  parted,  she  could  not  re- 
frain from  telling  Daraxa  that  she  had  never  seen  so 
accomplished  a  cavalier.  Any  other  but  the  beau- 
tiful Moor  would  have  been  alarmed  by  so  frank  a 
confession,  but  she  relied  so  firmly  on  her  lover's 
fidelity  that  she  only  smiled  at  it,  while  her  friend 
thought  her  the  most  insensible  of  her  sex,  and  made 
.10  mystery  of  the  passion  she  entertained  for  the 
unknown  gentleman,  of  whom  she  was  constantly 
speaking  in  the  most  lively  terms.  "  Yes,"  she  would 
say  to  Daraxa,  "  I  am  touched  by  the  merits  of  this 
cavalier ;  but  I  should  be  glad  to  know  who  be  is,  and 
why  such  a  man  should  never  show  himself  at  Court. 
I  conjure  you,  my  dear  Daraxa,  to  ask  him  this  when 
we  next  see  him."  Ozmin  was  soon  informed  of  all 
this  by  his  mistress,  who  warned  him  of  the  delicate 
situation  in  which  he  stood ;  that  he  ought  not  to 
abuse  the  credulous  passion  of  Elvira,  nor  could  he,  she 
trusted,  be  capable  of  betraying  his  faithful  Daraxa ; 
that  in  love  the  slightest  appearances  cause  anxiety, 
and  that  when  one  person  is  in  possession  of  the  heart 
she  ought  to  be  the  sole  object  of  all  its  desires. 

Ozmin  really  thought  that  his  mistress  wrote  thus 
to  amuse  herself,  and  therefore  answered  her  in  a  jest- 
ing manner.  He  even  went  further,  for  at  the  next 
interview  he  paid  particular  court  to  Elvira,  who 


194  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

received  his  attentions  in  the  most  sensible  manner, 
and  returned  them  with  usury.  Daraxa,  agreeably 
to  her  friend's  request,  then  interrogated  him  about 
his  country  and  birth  and  the  present  condition  of 
his  fortune.  He  replied  without  hesitation  that  he 
was  a  gentleman  of  Arragon,  and  that  his  name  was 
Don  Jayme  Vivez ;  that,  having  been  taken  by  the 
Moors  and  set  at  liberty  by  the  capitulation  of  Baza, 
he  was  waiting  in  expectation  of  remittances  from 
his  family  to  enable  him  to  put  himself  into  a  con- 
dition to  appear  at  Court.  The  story  was  simple  and 
plausible,  and  sufficiently  satisfactory  to  Donna  Elvira, 
who,  having  inquired  if  there  was  a  family  in  Arragon 
of  the  name  of  Vivez,  learned  with  extreme  satisfaction 
that  it  was  one  of  the  most  illustrious  in  the  kingdom. 

This  intrigue  became  by  degrees  very  distressing  to 
our  two  lovers.  Elvira  was  really  in  love,  and  became 
more  troublesome  to  them  in  proportion  as  her  love 
increased.  Ozmin  no  sooner  perceived  that  she  was 
in  earnest  than  he  completely  altered  his  behaviour 
towards  her,  and  only  addressed  her  in  a  civil  and 
polite  manner;  but  Elvira's  passion  increased  without 
his  assistance.  Daraxa,  well  satisfied  with  Ozmin's 
conduct,  pitied  her  friend  sincerely  and  would  gladly 
have  undeceived  her;  but  she  feared  that  such  be- 
haviour on  her  part  would  have  excited  Elvira's 
jealousy,  the  effects  of  which  were  too  much  to  be 
feared  in  the  present  condition  of  her  fortune. 

In  the  meantime  spring  came  on  and  gave  quite 
another  face  to  the  afikirs  at  Court.  Ferdinand  re- 
solved to  open  the  campaign  by  the  siege  of  Granada  j 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      195 

and  the  Moors,  who  had  foreseen  that  this  would  be 
the  case,  were  preparing  to  do  their  best  in  defence  of 
so  important  a  place.  They  had  in  the  city  a  garrison 
of  fifteen  thousand  men,  of  the  best  troops  of  King 
Mahomet.  The  Catholic  king  was  well  aware  of  this, 
and  therefore  had  taken  the  precaution  to  solicit,  by  his 
ministers,  as  well  as  through  the  interposition  of  the 
Pope,  the  assistance  of  the  other  Christian  princes  to 
execute  his  design  of  chasing  all  the  Infidels  out  of  Spain. 
Many  of  these  princes  had  promised  succours,  and  as 
soon  as  he  was  well  assured  that  their  troops  were  ad- 
vancing to  join  him,  he  set  forward  himself  at  the  head 
of  his  army,  with  the  intention  of  surprising  the  Moors 
and  to  give  them  no  further  time  to  fortify  themselves. 
As  the  queen  foresaw  that  so  precarious  a  siege 
would  last  for  a  considerable  time,  she  resolved  to 
accompany  the  king  and  pass  the  campaign  with 
him.  This  report  being  spread,  our  two  lovers  were 
much  rejoiced  at  it,  hoping  that  in  the  confusion  of 
the  army  they  might  find  an  opportunity,  with  the 
assistance  of  Orviedo,  to  get  into  Granada.  But 
their  ill  luck  ordained  it  otherwise,  for  the  queen,  the 
evening  prior  to  her  departure,  told  Daraxa  that  she 
was  not  to  accompany  her  in  this  journey.  "To 
have  less  trouble,"  added  that  princess,  "  I  shall  only 
take  with  me  those  women  whose  services  I  shall 
absolutely  require.  It  is  my  intention  to  leave  my 
maids  of  honour  at  Seville,  with  their  relations,  or 
under  the  care  of  persons  of  distinction,  to  whom  I 
shall  recommend  them.  As  for  you,  my  dear  Daraxa, 
you  will  be  entrusted  to  Don  Lewis  de  Padilla.  I 


196  MATEO  ALBMAN. 

have  made  choice  of  this  nobleman  because  he  is  tht 
father  of  your  friend  Elvira;  besides  which,  I  think 
you  will  find  yourself  more  agreeably  situated  in  his 
family  than  elsewhere." 

The  despair  of  Ozmin  knew  no  bounds  when  his 
mistress  sent  him  word  of  this  order  of  the  queen. 
He  saw  that  all  his  plans  were  frustrated,  and  his 
mind,  fluctuating  amidst  a  variety  of  thoughts  and 
undetermined  suggestions,  inspired  alternately  by 
love  and  glory,  was  in  an  inconceivable  perplexity. 
But  he  received  so  many  tender  and  moving  letters 
from  Daraxa  that  she  at  length  succeeded  in  fixing 
his  irresolute  thoughts  upon  herself  alone.  The  fol- 
lowing is  one  of  these  letters,  which  I  have  selected 
from  among  them  : — 

"  Orviedo  has  informed  me  how  excessively  you 
lament  your  absence  from  Granada.  Depart,  Ozmin, 
depart ;  your  heart  is  more  devoted  to  glory  than  to 
love.  Let  me  not  detain  you  here  any  longer.  I 
well  know  that  your  departure  will  cost  me  my  life ; 
but  the  severest  pangs  that  I  shall  suffer  will  be  in 
dying  for  an  ungrateful  man,  who  abandons  me  at 
the  very  time  that  I  stand  most  in  need  of  his  assist- 
ance. I  thought  myself  dearer  to  you  than  all  the 
world.  How  greatly  was  I  mistaken!  Of  whom 
am  I  to  complain?  Of  myself,  for  having  believed 
you,  or  of  you  for  having  thus  beguiled  me  ?  If  my 
love  for  you  does  not  make  me  blind,  your  life  is 
mine.  You  have  told  me  so  a  hundred  times,  nay, 
you  have  sworn  it.  Why  then,  without  my  consent, 
do  you  dispose  of  what  is  mine?  How  can  you 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      197 

think  of  applying  it  to  any  other  use  than  that  of 
serving  me?  Ah  !  Ozmin,  you  know  but  little  how 
to  love !  Hew  far  are  you  behind  me  in  love's  race ! 
Glory  may  be  everywhere  acquired,  and  many  might 
be  found,  if  sought  for,  who  would  willingly  resign 
all  pretensions  to  glory,  and  share  the  distresses  of  an 
unfortunate  woman,  in  preference  to  serving  all  the 
monarchs  upon  earth." 

Anxious  as  Ozmin  was  to  render  himself  service- 
able to  his  country,  he  was  unable  to  resist  Daraxa's 
persuasive  remonstrances,  and  the  lover  on  this 
occasion  gained  the  victory  over  the  hero  in  him. 
The  Court  set  forward  for  the  army,  and  the  beau- 
tiful Moor  was  received  by  the  Marquis  de  Padilla 
with  as  much  honour  as  if  she  had  been  the  qt'een 
herself.  Elvira,  who  loved  her  tenderly,  and  whom 
an  interest  still  stronger  than  friendship  assisted  to 
rejoice  that  they  should  henceforth  be  inseparable 
companions,  was  delighted  with  this  change.  Daraxa 
would  also  have  been  tolerably  satisfied  with  her 
situation  if  she  had  had  a  little  more  liberty  in  the 
family,  but,  on  the  contrary,  she  was  more  confined 
than  she  had  been  at  Court.  She  was  completely  a 
prisoner.  In  the  first  place,  neither  she  nor  Elvira 
dared  venture  to  leave  the  house  under  any  pretence 
whatever.  The  only  indulgence  that  was  extended 
to  them  was  to  walk  of  an  evening  in  the  garden  at 
a  regulated  hour;  and,  as  if  this  walk  was  not  a 
recreation  sufficiently  restricted  for  them,  the  old 
marquis  generally  took  the  trouble  of  accompanying 
them;  or,  if  he  sometimes  had  not  sufficient  time  to 


198  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

allow  of  his  harassing  them  with  his  vexatious  com- 
pany, Don  Rodrigo,  his  son,  took  charge  of  them, 
and  they  gained  nothing  by  the  change.  In  addition 
to  all  this  the  ladies'  apartments  had  no  look-out  but 
towards  the  garden,  without  any  window  towards 
the  street.  They  saw  nobody  from  without  doors, 
neither  men  nor  women ;  and  of  the  people  in  the 
house  very  few  were  permitted  to  speak  to  them. 

All  these  unpleasantries  united  to  embitter  the 
extreme  civilities  paid  her  by  Don  Lewis.  This  old 
courtier  professed  that  he  only  treated  her  in  this 
manner  from  the  very  great  consideration  and  respect 
he  entertained  for  her.  Daraxa  was  not,  however, 
the  dupe  of  these  fine  protestations;  but,  losing  all 
hope  of  receiving  any  communication  from  her  lover, 
she  would  have  completely  given  herself  up  to 
chagrin,  had  not  Donna  Elvira  also  been  concerned 
in  it,  who,  being  scarcely  able  to  live  any  longer 
without  her  dear  Don  Jayme,  told  Daraxa  that  she 
much  wished  to  write  to  that  cavalier. 

"  Ah  !  "  answered  Daraxa,  "  and  how  do  you 
think  of  conveying  the  letter  to  him  ?  " 

"  One  of  my  women,"  replied  Elvira,  "  has  pre- 
vailed on  a  man,  who  does  not  belong  to  the  family, 
and  who  is  well  acquainted  with  Vivez,  to  undertake 
to  deliver  the  letter  into  his  own  hands." 

Daraxa  approved  of  her  resolution,  and  they  sat 
down  to  compose  a  letter  together.  The  daughter 
of  Don  Lewis  wrote  it,  and  Daraxa  added  these 
words  in  her  own  language :  "  The  chief  happiness 
of  lovers  consists  in  seeing  each  other,  their  chief 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      199 

misery  in  being  separated.  I  languish  in  expectation 
of  hearing  from  you.  I  die  if  I  do  not  receive 
some  news  from  you  shortly." 

Elvira  asked  the  meaning  of  these  words,  and 
Daraxa  answered,  "  I  have  sent  word  to  Don  Jayme 
that  his  mistress  can  no  longer  endure  his  absence, 
and  must  fall  a  prey  to  ennui  if  she  do  not  find 
relief  where  she  expects  it."  The  most  attached 
friends  generally  behave  in  this  manner  towards  each 
other  when  they  are  rivals  in  love. 

The  letter  was  faithfully  delivered  to  Ozmin,  who 
was  the  more  rejoiced  at  its  receipt,  as  he  had  up  to 
that  moment  employed  in  vain  all  Orviedo's  ingenuity 
to  discover  what  was  going  on  at  Don  Lewis's ;  and 
as  one  happy  event  never  occurs,  according  to  the 
proverb,  without  another  treading  on  its  heels,  it 
happened  two  days  after  this  that  Orviedo  appeared 
before  him  dressed  like  a  labourer.  Ozmin  did  not 
recognise  him  at  first,  but  shortly  afterwards  asked 
him  the  reason  for  this  disguise. 

"  I  will  tell  you,"  replied  Orviedo.  "  I  equipped 
myself  in  this  manner  for  the  purpose  of  perambu- 
lating the  Marquis  de  Padilla's  house  in  the  hope 
of  meeting  one  of  Daraxa's  Moorish  women,  or 
of  scraping  acquaintance  with  some  one  of  Don 
Lewis's  servants.  I  chanced  to  stop  before  a  par- 
ticular part  of  the  garden,  where  several  workmen 
were  engaged  in  repairing  the  wall.  The  master- 
mason,  seeing  me  very  attentive  to  their  work,  took 
me  for  one  of  his  own  trade.  *  My  good  friend,' 
said  he  to  me,  4 1  am  in  want  of  labourers  to 


200  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

finish  this  j  i>,  are  you  inclined  to  lend  a  hand?' 
I  replL-d  tha^  I  was  employed  elsewhere,  but  that  I 
had  a  comrade  who  was  out  of  work,  and  would  be 
glad  to  make  himself  useful  to  him.  (  Send  him  to 
me,'  said  the  master-mason,  '  if  he  only  knows  how 
to  wheel  a  barrow  he  will  be  of  service,  and  I  will  pay 
him  well.'  Upon  this  I  left  him,'  added  Orviedo, 
smiling,  '  to  propose  this  fine  job  to  you,  which  love 
presents  to  make  you  pass  your  time  more  agreeably." 

Ridiculous  as  such  an  undertaking  appeared  to 
Ozmin,  he  was  too  much  enamoured  of  Daraxa  to 
reject  this  opportunity  of  seeing  her.  He  accepted 
the  employment,  dressed  himself  like  a  workman, 
and  followed  Orviedo,  who  said  to  the  master-mason, 
"  Sefior  Maestro  de  obra,  this  is  my  comrade  Am- 
brosio, an  unfortunate  soldier,  who,  after  having  been 
four  years  a  prisoner  among  the  Moors,  is  reduced  to 
labour  for  his  subsistence."  The  bargain  was  soon 
struck,  and  Ambrosio  hired  to  begin  his  work  the 
next  morning.  Our  new  workman,  to  show  that  he 
had  his  work  at  heart,  was  up  betimes  to  attend  his 
new  master,  who  led  him  into  the  garden,  and  putting 
the  wheelbarrow  into  his  hands,  told  him  what  he 
was  to  do.  Ambrosio  took  to  his  work  as  readily  as 
if  he  had  been  all  his  lifetime  in  the  trade,  at  which 
his  master  was  so  much  satisfied  that  he  praised  him 
exceedingly,  assuring  him  that  he  would  in  time 
make  an  excellent  workman. 

Nobody  yet  appeared  stirring  in  the  house,  but 
about  ten  o'clock  our  workman  observed  some  of  the 
Moorish  women  at  the  windows  of  Daraxa's  apart- 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      201 

ment,  and  shortly  after  Daraxa  herself  with  Donna 
Elvira.  He  now  began  to  felicitate  himself  upon  his 
contrivance,  and  felt  delighted  with  the  anticipation 
of  the  surprise  the  ladies  would  be  in  when  they 
should  be  walking  in  the  garden  and  recognise  him 
in  this  laughable  disguise.  He  even  flattered  himself 
that  in  this  habit  he  might  occasionally  speak  to  them 
without  danger.  He  knew  not  what  sort  of  man 
Don  Lewis  was. 

Independent  of  Daraxa's  having  been  recommended 
to  his  care  by  the  queen  in  so  particular  a  manner,  that 
he  would  have  considered  himself  unworthy  of  such 
confidence  did  he  not  watch  night  and  day  over  her 
actions,  he  well  knew  that  she  had  many  lovers,  and 
did  not  believe  Daraxa  to  be  more  insensible  than 
others,  the  Moorish  women  of  those  days  not  being 
considered  enemies  to  love,  but  was  more  afraid  of 
enterprises  from  without  than  of  inward  insensibility, 
of  amorous  cavaliers  than  of  the  object  beloved. 
He  feared  Don  Alonso  more  than  any,  whom  he 
regarded  as  a  favoured  lover.  And  his  fear  had  by 
no  means  subsided,  although  well  informed  that  this 
young  lord  was  not  yet  sufficiently  recovered  to  leave 
his  house,  and,  consequently,  unable  to  contrive  any 
means  of  intercourse  with  the  beautiful  Moor.  A 
commerce  by  billet-doux  seemed  to  him  to  be  no  less 
dangerous* than  the  nearest  conversation.  To  relieve 
his  mind  entirely  from  such  apprehensions  he  pressed 
the  master-mason  incessantly  to  make  an  end  of  his 
work,  fearing  that  some  one  of  the  workmen  might 
be  bold  enough  to  undertake  some  amorous  commis- 


2<M  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

sion.  This  idea  kept  him  constantly  uneasy  and 
obliged  him  to  observe  all  the  labourers. 

Seeing  them  at  work  at  the  close  of  this  day  he 
took  particular  notice  of  Ambrosio,  whom  he  had  not 
before  observed,  and  who  appeared  to  him  a  very 
steady-looking  young  fellow.  This  examination  did 
not  much  please  the  young  Moor,  who  turned  pale 
from  fear  of  being  discovered.  He  had,  however, 
nothing  to  apprehend,  for,  suspicious  and  mistrustful 
as  the  old  man  was,  he  could  distinguish  nothing  but 
the  labourer  in  Ambrosio;  and  this  false  mason  left 
his  work  at  the  regular  time  with  the  others,  having 
had  no  other  gratification  during  the  whole  of  the 
day  than  that  of  seeing  his  mistress  pass  him  with 
Don  Rodrigo,  who  was  his  rival.  How  much  patience 
is  necessary  in  love,  although  the  most  violent  of  all 
passions!  Ozmin  knew  this  already  but  too  well. 
He  was  not  therefore  dispirited,  but  thought  himself 
amply  rewarded  for  his  trouble  in  having  seen  his 
beloved.  If  this  can  satisfy  a  Spaniard,  why  should 
it  not  suffice  to  make  a  Moor  feel  happy  ? 

Fortune  was  much  more  favourable  towards  him 
the  following  day.  He  returned  to  his  labour  with 
fresh  courage.  The  wheelbarrow  was  in  perpetual 
motion,  and  as  in  carrying  the  stones  along  he  was 
obliged  to  pass  frequently  under  the  windows  of 
Daraxa's  apartment,  he  began  to  sing  a  pastoral  song 
in  the  Moorish  language.  The  masons,  consider- 
ing him  a  lively  fellow,  who  had  been  a  long  time 
a  prisoner  among  the  Infidels,  were  not  surprised  at 
hearing  him  sing  one  of  their  songs.  But  Laida 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      203 

heard  him  from  her  chamber,  and,  curious  to  know 
what  man  it  could  be  who  was  singing  one  of  the 
songs  of  her  country  so  well,  went  down  into  the 
garden  and  recognised  Ozmin. 

She  pretended  to  be  gathering  flowers  for  her 
mistress,  which  she  did  almost  every  day,  and  the 
Moor,  perceiving  that  she  leered  upon  him,  as  he 
passed  by  her  next  time  with  his  wheelbarrow,  let 
fall  a  letter  just  before  her  eyes,  which  he  had  brought 
with  him  concealed  in  his  bosom,  without  stopping 
or  even  looking  at  Laida,  who  instantly  snatched  it 
up  and  carried  it  to  her  mistress. 

You  will  easily  conceive  the  joy  and  surprise  of 
Daraxa.  She  was  still  in  bed.  She  rose  imme- 
diately and  dressed  herself  quickly  to  enjoy  from  her 
window  the  pleasure  of  again  beholding  a  lover  so 
dear  to  her.  She  was  much  affected  to  see  that  he 
felt  no  shame  in  subjecting  himself  to  so  wretched  a 
condition  to  show  his  extreme  love  for  her,  and  yet 
there  was  something  in  this  fantastical  equipage  which 
delighted  her  extremely.  She  wrote  an  answer  to  his 
letter,  which  she  entrusted  to  Laida,  who  took  the 
first  opportunity  to  deliver  it,  unperceived  by  any 
one.  From  so  propitious  a  commencement  to  his 
adventure,  Signer  Ambrosio  began  to  relish  his  trade 
of  a  mason.  Daraxa  was  almost  all  day  at  the  window 
to  see  him  pass  and  repass,  so  that  they  had  full 
opportunity  to  converse  by  signs,  which  had  a  thou- 
sand charms  for  two  lovers  of  so  refined  a  character. 

Thus  they  went  on  for  several  days.  Don  Lewis 
never  failed  to  be  among  the  workmen  every  evening, 


204  MATEO  ALE  MAN. 

that  his  presence  might  excite  them  to  despatch  their 
work,  and  he  always  remarked  that  Ambrosio  was 
the  most  indefatigable  among  them.  He  took  a  par- 
ticular fancy  for  him  on  this  account,  and,  thinking 
that  he  would  make  a  good  servant,  he  inquired  of 
*he  master-mason  where  he  had  procured  so  good  a 
labourer.  "  One  of  the  artisans  of  the  city  brought 
him  to  me,"  answered  he,  "  and  I  have  every  reason 
to  be  well  satisfied  with  him."  With  so  good  a  re- 
commendation the  marquis  took  Ambrosio  aside,  to 
whom  he  had  never  yet  spoken,  and  asked  him  of 
what  country  he  was.  Our  labourer  made  answer,  in 
the  most  clownish  manner  he  could  possibly  affect,  that 
he  was  born  at  Arragon,  and  went  on  fully  confirming 
what  Orviedo  had  before  related  to  the  master-mason. 
Don  Lewis  found  his  story  very  plausible,  and  it  even 
seemed  to  him  that  he  had  the  accent  of  that  country. 
"  Who  was  your  master  at  Granada,"  continued  he, 
"and  in  what  were  you  particularly  employed?" 

"  My  lord,"  said  Ambrosio,  "  I  was  servant  to  a 
great  merchant  who  had  a  very  fine  garden,  and  I  had 
the  care  of  his  flowers." 

"You  know,  then,  how  to  cultivate  a  flower  garden!" 
cried  the  marquis.  "  I  am  delighted,  for  I  am  just  in 
want  of  a  man  to  pay  attention  to  mine,  which  I  take 
great  pride  in.  I  have  been  wishing  for  one  for  these 
three  months  past,  as  my  present  gardener  will  not 
undertake  the  entire  care  of  it ;  if  therefore  you  are 
willing  to  serve  me  I  will  pay  you  good  wages,and  shall 
not  be  disregardful  of  your  future  fortune,  provided  you 
continue  faithful  and  perform  your  duty  punctually." 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.     205 

At  these  words  our  pretended  labourer  expressed 
more  by  his  outward  behaviour  than  by  words  that 
he  was  most  grateful  for  Don  Lewis's  kindness,  which 
he  would  endeavour  to  deserve  by  his  future  exertions. 
The  agreement  was  soon  made ;  Don  Lewis  desired 
him  to  lay  by  his  apron,  take  leave  of  his  present 
master,  and  to  wait  upon  him  the  next  day,  when 
he  should  be  provided  with  everything  necessary  for 
the  cultivation  of  his  flower  garden. 

Ozmin  was  now  no  longer  therefore  a  mason,  but 
a  gardener  to  the  Marquis  de  Padilla,  who,  on  his 
arrival  next  day,  began  by-  prescribing  to  him  the  line 
of  conduct  which  he  was  to  observe  if  he  hoped  to 
be  retained  for  any  length  of  time  in  his  family.  He 
desired  him  to  entertain  the  greatest  respect  for  the 
ladies,  a-id  to  avoid  any  sort  of  intercourse  with  the 
female  servants.  He  dwelt  particularly  on  this  point 
because,  in  spite  of  his  affected  clownish  looks,  he 
thought  him  of  a  handsome  person. 

After  this  lecture  his  patron,  who  had  sufficiently 
discovered  to  Ambrosio  that  he  was  a  true  Spaniard 
in  his  opinion  of  the  fair  sex,  set  his  new  gardener  to 
work  in  his  own  presence,  to  judge  of  his  ability,  for 
he  knew  enough  of  the  art  to  judge  of  his  perform- 
ance. Fortunately  for  Ozmin  he  had  a  taste  for 
flowers,  and  was  as  skilful  in  their  culture  as  many  a 
florist  by  profession.  Don  Lewis  was  soon  convinced 
that  he  had  gained  an  acquisition,  upon  which  he 
prided  himself,  and  he  was  so  full  of  it  that  he  could 
not  refrain  from  mentioning  it  at  dinner.  He  said 
that  he  had  been  lucky  enough  to  meet  with  a  gar 


2o6  MATEO  ALEM.'.N. 

dener  to  cultivate  his  flowers,  and  he  hoped  that  for 
the  future  his  flower  garden  would  be  well  attended 
to.  "  Among  my  workmen,"  added  he,  "  I  remarked 
a  young  fellow  who  was  employed  at  the  wheel- 
barrow, whom  I  asked  a  few  questions,  and  have 
discovered  that  he  is  a  complete  adept  in  the  culture 
of  flowers." 

This  discourse  did  not  escape  Daraxa,  who  doubted 
not  that  the  new  gardener  was  Ozmin,  and  hoped  that 
she  should  by  this  means  have  more  frequent  oppor- 
tunities of  speaking  and  writing  to  him.  After  dinner 
she  led  Elvira  into  her  apartment,  where  they  both 
stood  at  the  window  that  looked  towards  the  garden. 
Ambrosio  was  at  this  time  in  the  middle  of  the  par- 
terre opposite  to  them.  The  beautiful  Moor,  having 
recognised  him,  and  wishing  to  amuse  herself,  pointed 
him  out  to  her  friend.  "  Look  at  the  gardener  of 
whose  skill  your  father  has  been  boasting  to  us  just 
now,  observe  him  attentively;  does  not  your  heart 
whisper  something  in  his  favour?  do  you  not  feel 
some  unusual  emotions  ?  " 

Elvira  laughed  aloud  at  these  words,  which  she 
thought  were  meant  only  in  joke ;  but  after  having 
looked  for  sometime  she  began  to  suspect  the  truth. 
But  the  fear  of  being  mistaken,  and  then  laughed  at, 
prevented'  her  from  saying  what  she  thought,  till 
Daraxa,  pressing  her  to  answer  and  calling  her 
insensible,  confirmed  her  suspicions.  She  then  broke 
forth  into  an  excess  of  joy  and  passionate  expressions 
which  but  too  well  betrayed  her  excessive  love  foi 
Don  Jayme'.  The  prudent  Moor  rejoiced  exceed- 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  &ALFARACHE.     20? 

ingly  that  she  had  no  longer  concealed  the  metamor- 
phosis of  that  cavalier.  "  My  dear  Elvira,"  said  she, 
it  is  well  that  I  have  been  the  first  to  make  this 
discovery.  Alas!  if  Don  Jay  me'  had  presented  him- 
self before  you  in  the  presence  of  Don  Lewis  or  Don 
Rodrigo,  your  surprise  would  have  ruined  us;  but  as 
you  are  now  prepared  to  see  him,  I  trust  you  will  so 
restrain  your  feelings  as  not  to  create  any  suspicions." 
Elvira  promised  that  she  would  do  her  best,  after 
which  the  two  ladies  amused  themselves  by  discours- 
ing of  the  pretended  Ambrosio. 

Don  Lewis's  daughter  could  not  conceive  how  he 
had  managed  to  deceive  her  father,  the  most  mis- 
trustful of  men,  and  felt  well  pleased  that  Don  Jayme 
had  subjected  himself  to  so  mean  an  employment  for 
her  sake.  Had  she  known  as  much  as  her  friend 
upon  that  score  her  grateful  sentiments  would 
doubtless  have  abated. 

From  this  time  there  was  nothing  but  pleasures 
and  intrigues  from  morning  till  night  between  the 
two  ladies  and  the  happy  gardener.  Claricia  and 
Laida,  their  confidants,  were  expert  girls,  who  served 
them  with  as  much  address  as  zeal.  Ambrosio,  on 
his  side,  acquitted  himself  so  skilfully  towards  both  his 
mistresses  that  they  were  both  well  satisfied.  Never 
was  any  affair  better  conducted.  Elvira  disclosed  all 
the  feelings  of  her  heart  to  her  friend,  and  Daraxa 
was  prudent  enough  not  to  communicate  what  she 
felt  in  return.  These  rivals  had  each  their  particular 
hiding-place  in  the  garden;  love  letters  flew  to  and 
fro ;  there  was  a  perfect  post  of  gallantry  established  j 


ao8  MATEO  ALEM&N. 

and  if  their  communication  had  gone  no  further, 
ought  they  not  to  have  been  well  satisfied  with  so 
agreeable  a  life  ?  But  if  love  be  sufficiently  gratified 
when  it  is  only  in  fair  way  of  succeeding,  it  imme- 
diately ceases  to  be  love.  That  passion  soon  grows 
tired  of  the  same  pleasures  too  often  repeated;  it 
looks  for  variety.  The  impatient  Elvira  longed  for 
an  interview,  and  in  her  next  letter  desired  Don 
Jay  me*  to  meet  them  that  night  at  the  window  of 
the  lower  gallery,  of  which  Claricia  would  get  the 
key.  Although  Daraxa  did  not  altogether  approve 
of  this  nocturnal  meeting,  she  had  not  sufficient 
resolution  to  object  to  it. 

Ambrosio  lodged  in  the  gardener's  house  at  the 
bottom  of  the  garden,  the  door  of  which  was  always 
closed  at  midnight  by  order  of  Don  Lewis,  and 
remained  shut  until  the  hour  for  returning  to  work 
the  next  morning.  This,  however,  was  but  a  trifling 
impediment  to  our  lover,  who  soon  made  a  ladder  of 
small  cords,  by  means  of  which  he  could  descend 
from  his  chamber  into  the  garden  and  reascend  at 
his  pleasure.  In  his  answer  therefore  he  assured 
the  ladies  that  he  would  not  fail  to  be  at  the 
appointed  spot  the  next  night.  With  what  impa- 
tience did  they  await  that  moment,  and  when  it 
arrived  how  delighted  were  they  to  be  able  to  con- 
verse with  their  dear  Ambrosio !  Elvira  gave  way 
to  the  impetuosity  of  her  feelings  without  restraint; 
and  Daraxa's,  though  more  restrained,  were  not  in 
reality  less  violent.  The  windows  of  the  gallery  were 
very  low, .  and  the  iron  bars  were  at  a  sufficient 


THE  LIFE  OF^UZMAti  D'ALFJRACHE.     209 

_ 
distance  apart  to  admit  an  arm  between  them.     The 

amorous  Elvira,  emboldened  by  the  darkness  of  the 
night,  put  her  hands  through  the  bars  for  Ozmin  to 
kiss,  to  the  hearths  regret  of  Daraxa.  Ozmin,  who 
well  knew  the  delicate  feelings  of  his  countrywoman 
on  this  point,  took  every  opportunity  of  mitigating 
the  pain  that  he  knew  she  must  feel  on  the  occasion, 
by  every  endearment  he  could  bestow  on  her  unper- 
ceived  by  her  friend.  This  interview  therefore  was  the 
cause  of  more  anxiety  than  gratification  to  Daraxa, 
who,  though  she  possessed  her  lover's  heart,  thought 
herself  much  to  be  pitied  ;  when,  on  the  contrary,  her 
friend,  though  not  loved  by  Ozmin  as  she  imagined, 
felt  herself  truly  happy.  The  one,  ignorant  of  her  hap- 
piness, was  unhappy ;  while  the  other,  who  knew  not 
how  unfortunate  she  really  was,  felt  elated  with  joy. 
After  two  hours'  conversation  they  at  last  parted. 
Ambrosio  regained  his  chamber,  and  the  ladies  with- 
drew, very  differently  affected  by  this  interview.  If 
Don  Lewis's  daughter  felt  desirous  for  a  second 
meeting,  Daraxa's  wishes  were  much  the  reverse. 
Elvira  had  shown  so  little  modesty  in  this  first 
interview  that  Daraxa  had  good  reason  to  fear  she 
would  become  still  less  reserved  and  more  violent  in 
her  love,  and  could  not  therefore  any  longer  refrain 
from  writing  a  letter  to  Ozmin  on  the  subject, 
wherein  she  told  him  that  she  never  wished  to 
converse  with  him  again  in  this  clandestine  manner 
by  night,  the  pleasure  of  which  cost  her  too  dear. 
The  faithful  Moor,  who  would  rather  have  died  than 
have  given  any  real  cause  for  his  mistress's  suspicions, 

VOL.  I.  '  O 


210  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

carefully  avoided,  tinder  various  pretences,  every  pro- 
position that  was  made  to  him  by  Elvira  for  another 
interview,  whose  personal  attractions  were  in  reality 
too  alluring  to  be  long  trifled  with-with  impunity. 

In  the  meantime  the  masons  had  made  an  end 
of  their  work,  and  there  being  now  no  longer  any- 
thing to  apprehend  from  that  quarter,  Don  Lewis 
allowed  the  ladies  the  full  liberty  of  walking  in  the 
garden  when  they  pleased.  One  day  as  they  were 
sitting  with  Don  Kodrigo  in  an  arbour,  his  sister,  who 
did  not  much  mind  him  and  wished  to  accustom  him 
to  her  talking  with  Ambrosio,  called  that  gardener 
as  he  was  passing  by  and  desired  him  to  gather  them 
some  flowers.  Donna  Elvira,  wishing  to  detain  him, 
began  to  question  him  about  his  sufferings  while  a 
prisoner  at  Granada;  upon  which  Don  Rodrigo  re- 
quested Daraxa  to  converse  for  a  short  time  with  him 
in  the  Moorish  language,  to  see  if  he  was  well 
acquainted  with  it.  The  beautiful  Moor  willingly 
consented  to  oblige  Don  Rodrigo  in  this  respect,  and 
told  him  that  for  a  Spaniard  he  spoke  it  tolerably 
well. 

Don  Rodrigo,  who  frequently  amused  himself  by 
conversing  with  Ambrosio,  was  so  much  pleased 
with  his  good  sense  and  wit,  which  Ozmin  could  not 
entirely  conceal,  that  he  thought  he  might  make  use 
of  him  to  assist  his  pretensions  to  Daraxa,  and  for 
this  purpose  admitted  him  more  into  his  confidence. 
He  was  now  therefore  the  first  to  call  him,  without 
even  asking  the  ladies'  permission,  allowed  him  to 
take  a  part  in  the  conversation,  and  was  pleased  to 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.     211 

hear  hi.n  talk  in  the  Moorish  language  with  Daraxa. 
The  happy  Ambrosio,  having  become  thus  familiar 
with  his  young  master,  never  saw  him  enter  the 
garden  with  the  ladies  but  he  ran  and  joined  them 
without  ceremony ;  or  if  by  chance  he  failed  of 
doing  it,  Donna  Elvira  went  herself  to  look  for  him 
and  never  returned  without  him.  Don  Rodrigo,  who 
was  fully  occupied  with  his  own  affairs,  never  took 
any  notice  of  these  little  inconsistencies,  not  in  the 
least  imagining  that  his  sister  could  fall  in  love  with 
a  servant.  If,  however,  Elvira  only  beheld  Don 
Jayme'  in  Ambrosio,  Daraxa  beheld  Ozmin  in  Don 
Jayme* ;  every  fresh  proof  therefore  of  her  friend's 
violent  passion  for  him  increased  the  uneasiness  of 
this  jealous  Moor. 

While  all  these  things  were  going  on  at  Don 
Lewis's,  the  young  Don  Alonso  de  Zuniga,  more 
enamoured  than  ever,  and  being  recovered  of  his 
wound,  began  to  get  abroad  again.  He  had  heard 
that  his  mistress  had  been  entrusted  by  the  queen  to 
Don  Lewis's  care  with  the  greatest  regret,  as  well 
from  his  natural  aversion  for  Don  Rodrigo  as  from 
a  jealousy  of  long  standing  between  their  families. 
Notwithstanding  all  this,  he  felt  that  it  was  neces- 
sary for  his  peace  of  mind  to  obtain  some  tidings 
and  even  see  her  if  it  were  any  way  possible.  For 
this  purpose  lie  employed  some  very  able  assistants, 
who  won  over  one  of  Donna  Elvira's  women  by 
means  of  a  certain  sum  of  money  paid  in  advance 
This  obliging  damsel  was  no  other  than  Claricia, 
whom  I  have  before  mentioned  to  vou,  who  was 


2!2  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

born  for  the  sole  purpose  of  conducting  love  intrigues, 
and  was  as  likely  as  any  one  to  succeed  in  cases  that 
she  undertook.  Don  Alonso  asked  but  one  piece  of 
service  of  her  for  his  money,  which  was  to  procure 
him  the  pleasure  of  speaking  to  Daraxa.  Claricia 
promised  wonders  ;  and  in  the  course  of  conversation 
she  related  to  him  the  full  particulars  of  Elvira's 
amour  with  Don  Jay  me,  who  from  a  nobleman  of 
the  city  of  Arragon  had  transformed  himself  into  a 
gardener  to  show  his  excessive  love  for  her. 

This  story,  to  which  Don  Alonso  listened  with  the 
greatest  attention,  much  surprised  him,  and  he  was 
curious  to  know  the  most  minute  circumstances  of 
it.  Of  these  Claricia  was  well  able  to  inform  him, 
and  she  told  him  everything  that  she  herself  knew 
on  the  subject;  but  she  was  not  able  to  tell  him 
of  the  share  that  the  beautiful  Daraxa  had  in  this 
adventure.  Alonso  could  not  possibly  conceive  who 
this  Don  Jayine*  Vivez  could  be,  of  whom  he  had 
never  heard  either  at  Court  or  in  the  army.  He 
would  willingly  have  made  acquaintance  and  acted 
in  conjunction  with  him,  to  make  a  party  of  four, 
the  mistresses  of  both,  as  he  conceived,  being  in. the 
same  house.  This  thought  gave  rise  to  many  others. 
He  reproached  himself  that  he  had  not  been  as  cou- 
rageous as  Don  Jaym6,  and  also  gained  admission  at 
Don  Lewis's  under  some  disguise  or  other,  which 
would  have  procured  him  the  opportunity  of  speak- 
ing with  Daraxa.  His  imagination  grew  upon  this 
point,  and  he  amused  his  mind  by  forming  a  thousand 
designs  on  the  subject. 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.     213 

Let  us  return  to  the  ladies.  Elvira,  persuaded 
that  it  was  not  usual  to  love  merely  for  the  sake  of 
sighing,  and  that  there  must  be  an  end  to  everything, 
resolved  to  be  united  to  her  dear  Don  Jay  me,  who  ap- 
peared so  worthy  to  possess  her.  But  she  felt  con- 
siderable hesitation  and  trouble  in  being  the  first 
to  make  such  a  proposal.  It  was  a  step  that  revolted 
against  propriety  too  much  for  her  to  think  of. 
She  reflected  that  it  would  be  much  preferable  to 
avail  herself  of  the  assistance  and  mediation  of  her 
friend,  by  whom  she  considered  herself  sufficiently 
beloved  to  expect  her  service  on  such  an  occasion. 
She  addressed  herself  therefore  to  Daraxa,  and  be- 
sought her  in  the  strongest  terms  to  undertake  her 
cause  for  her. 

Daraxa  was  now  truly  grieved,  for  she  found 
that  Elvira  would  willingly  consent  to  elope,  and 
actually  meditated  a  clandestine  marriage.  Having, 
however,  somewhat  recovered  herself,  she  said  to  her 
friend,  "  I  am  disposed  to  do  what  you  desire ;  but 
before  I  speak  to  Don  Jayine",  my  real  friendship 
will  not  permit  me  to  dispense  with  this  question : 
Whether  you  have  well  reflected  on  what  you  are 
daring  to  venture  upon?  No,  no,"  added  she,  "you 
cannot  have  considered  into  how  many  troubles 
you  must  infallibly  plunge  yourself.  Suffer  me  to 
point  out  to  you  what  you  owe  to  your  family  as 
well  as  to  yourself.  You  are  willing  to  put  yourself 
in  the  power  of  a  man  of  whom  you  know  neither 
the  birth  nor  fortune.  Can  you,  with  any  sort  of 
prudence,  rely  on  him  so  entirely  as  to  make  such 


ai4  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

advances  to  him  as  are  by  no  means  suitable  under 
any  circumstances  to  one  of  your  noble  birth?  and 
if,  unfortunately,  as  is  not  impossible,  these  advances 
be  not  received  agreeably  to  your  wishes,  what 
shame  and  regret  must  follow  so  indiscreet  a  line  of 
conduct! " 

Judicious  as  these  remonstrances  were,  Elvira  only 
heard  them  with  impatience;  and  not  being  able  to 
answer  them  with  any  good  reasons,  she  replied  as 
one  resolved,  that  her  excessive  love  would  permit 
her  to  follow  no  other  counsels  than  those  of  her 
own  heart.  When  Daraxa  saw  that  there  was  no 
hope  of  diverting  her  from  her  design,  she  no  longer 
opposed  her,  but  promised  that  she  would  make  pro- 
posals to  Don  Jayme'  that  very  night.  But  she  was 
somewhat  discomposed  when  Elvira,  either  from  mis- 
trust or  wishing  to  have  so  good  an  opportunity  of 
forming  her  own  opinion  of  the  sentiments  of  the 
beloved  object,  said  that  she  wished  to  be  present  her- 
self, unknown  to  that  cavalier,  during  the  conversa- 
tion, and  that  she  would  conceal  herself  behind  the 
curtains.  Nothing  was  now  wanting  but  to  desire 
Ambrosio  to  repair  to  the  window  of  the  lower 
gallery  at  midnight,  which  the  ladies  requested  by  a 
letter  which  they  wrote  to  him  in  common,  in  which 
they  sent  him  word  that  they  had  something  of  the 
utmost  importance  to  communicate. 

He  failed  not  to  be  there  at  the  hour  appointed, 
and  was  much  surprised  to  find  Daraxa  there  alone. 
"  Signor  Don  Jayme,"  said  Daraxa,  "  I  have,  in  the 
first  place,  some  ill  news  to  tell  you,  which  is  that  I 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.     215 

am  here  alone.  Your  mistress  wished  me  to  have  a 
private  conversation  with  you,  on  which  depend  her 
happiness  and  your  own."  After  this  preface,  the 
cunning  Moor  glided  her  hand  through  the  iron  bars 
and  pressed  that  of  Ozmin,  who  understood  immedi- 
ately that  this  interview  was  not  without  mystery. 
Such  was  his  quickness  of  penetration  that  he  made 
a  very  shrewd  guess  of  what  was  the  subject,  and  no 
sooner  had  Daraxa  entered  upon  the  delicate  pro- 
posals she  had  to  make  to  him  than  he  knew  well 
what  would  follow ;  but,  so  far  from  being  discom- 
posed by  it,  he  turned  everything  into  raillery  that 
was  said  or  proposed  to  him.  In  vain  did  Daraxa 
protest  that  she  was  speaking  seriously,  requesting 
him  to  answer  in  the  same  serious  manner.  He  still 
continued  his  tone  of  raillery  throughout. 

Thus  terminated  this  interview,  to  the  satisfaction 
of  Daraxa,  who  rejoiced  sincerely  that  it  had  ended 
in  this  manner,  and  who,  thinking  that  she  had  done 
her  part,  expected  some  acknowledgments  from  her 
friend.  But  Elvira  was  more  inclined  to  reproach 
than  to  compliment  her.  In  her  ill-humour  she  im- 
puted to  Daraxa  all  Don  Jayme's  ridicule,  whence 
she  inferred  that  it  was  most  imprudent  to  act  by 
proxy  in  love  when  able  to  conduct  one's  own  cause, 
and  made  a  vow  that  in  future  she  would  trust  her 
affairs  to  nobody,  but  use  every  means  in  her  power 
to  induce  Don  Jayme'  to  elope  with  her. 

She  behaved  to  Daraxa  the  next  morning  in  the 
same  manner  as  usual.  They  met  without  even 
mentioning  what  had  passed  the  preceding  evening, 


2iS  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

and  took  their  usual  walk  together  in  the  evening, 
concealing  from  each  other  their  true  sentiments, 
each  occupied  by  her  own  meditations. 

I  have  alreadv  told  you  that  Don  Rodrigo  had 
discovered  in  Ambrosio  a  man  whom  he  thought 
likely  to  promote  his  interest  with  Daraxa,  who  had 
hitherto  only  treated  his  professions  of  love  with  in- 
difference. The  coldness  of  his  constitution,  however, 
was  such  that  this  did  not  by  any  means  discourage 
him.  Not  susceptible  of  violent  love,  the  little  pro- 
gress that  he  made  in  Daraxa's  favour  caused  him  no 
trouble.  The  advantage  he  possessed  over  his  rivals 
in  seeing  and  conversing  with  the  beautiful  Moor 
was  a  pleasure  that  consoled  him,  though  he  knew 
he  was  not  the  favoured  lover.  As  he  had  not  as  yet 
acknowledged  his  sentiments  to  Daraxa,  otherwise 
than  by  any  little  attentions  he  had  paid  her,  and 
perceiving  that  she  took  pleasure  in  speaking  the 
Moorish  language  with  Ambrosio,  he  determined  to 
prevail  upon  this  gardener  to  declare  his  passion  for 
her  in  that  language;  and  Ambrosio  accepted  the 
commission,  promising  his  young  master  to  perform 
it  with  all  imaginable  zeal  the  first  opportunity  that 
should  present  itself,  which  occurred  the  very  same 
day. 

"The  ladies,  after  having  taken  several  turns  about 
the  garden,  entered  the  arbour  in  which  they  usually 
rested  themselves.  Ambrosio  came  up  to  them  with 
a  basket  of  flowers,  and  Don  Rodrigo  desired  him  to 
make  up  some  nosegays,  and  at  the  same  time  made 
sign  to  Elvira  to  follow  him,  as  though  he  had  some- 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.     217 

thing  particular  to  communicate  to  her.  The  brother 
and  sister  having  left  the  arbour,  Ozmin,  finding  him- 
self alone  with  his  mistress,  was  beginning  to  speak 
to  her  in  a  tone  of  pleasantry  in  favour  of  Don 
Rod ri  go's  passion,  but  he  perceived  her  melancholy 
appearance  and  desisted.  "Whence  this  sorrow, 
madam  ?  "  said  he,  with  a  countenance  that  betrayed 
his  concern.  "  How  happens  it  that  when  I  am  about 
to  divert  you  by  the  performance  of  a  part  but  little 
dissimilar  to  that  which  you  enacted  towards  me  last 
night,  I  find  you  thus  evidently  affected  with  grief? " 
A  sigh  from  Daraxa  was  the  only  answer.  This  re- 
doubled Ozmin's  surprise  and  anxiety.  "Speak," 
cried  he,  "  speak  to  me,  Daraxa,  if  you  wish  not  to 
drive  me  to  despair.  What  can  your  silence  and  that 
sigh  portend  ?  They  seem  to  announce  more  mis- 
fortunes than  I  have  as  yet  had  any  reason  to  fear." 
The  beautiful  Moor  at  length  replied  that  the  peculi- 
arity of  their  fortunes,  and  the  daily  crosses  they  both 
met  with,  occasioned  a  sadness  which  she  could  not 
shake  off. 

Ozmin  endeavoured  to  soothe  her  by  representing 
that  her  courage  ought  not  to  forsake  her  now,  after 
having  hitherto  borne  their  misfortunes  with  firmness; 
and  assured  her  that  he  was  much  mortified  in  having 
been  obliged  to  show  some  sort  of  complacency  for 
Elvira's  blind  passion  for  him.  He  had  no  sooner 
uttered  these  words  than  Daraxa  burst  into  tears, 
and  said  in  a  voice  frequently  interrupted  by  violent 
sobbings,  "That  alone,  alas!  overcomes  my  firmness, 
which  is  proof  against  all  other  persecutions.  What 


2i8  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

torment  for  a  tender  and  delicate  heart  to  be  inces- 
santly exposed  to  what  is  most  likely  to  rend  it  in 
twain !  Perhaps  I  may,  ere  long,  reproach  myself  for 
having  had  too  great  a  confidence  in  your  fidelity." 

"  Can  I  understand  you  rightly  ?  "  replied  Ozmin, 
much  affected.  "  You  think  me  capable  of  loving 
another.  Ah !  Daraxa,  can  you,  who  know  my  heart, 
do  me  such  an  injustice ;  you  who  so  well  know  my 
virtuous  sentiments  as  well  as  my  abhorrence  of 
infidelity? " 

"  I  would  willingly  believe,"  answered  Daraxa, 
wiping  away  her  tears,  "  that  I  am  to  blame  for 
being  thus  mistrustful ;  but  I  love  you,  Ozmin, 
and  I  cannot  reflect  without  pain  on  your  attentions 
to  Elvira;  you  would  not  have  gone  so  far  had  they 
been  equally  painful  to  you.  When  I  consider  their 
effects,  I  am  still  more  alarmed.  Elvira  is  more 
positive  than  ever  that  she  shall  overcome  your 
resistance  by  Her  perseverance.  How,  then,  can  I 
feel  convinced  that  you  will  not  at  last  be  wrought 
upon  by  her  excessive  passion  ?  " 

"II"  cried  Ozmin,  with  transport ;  "  be  assured 
that " 

Here  he  was  interrupted  by  Elvira,  who  at  that 
instant  ran  hastily  into  the  arbour,  and  her  brother 
joined  them  the  next  moment. 

Ozmin  did  not  expect  them  so  soon,  considering 
that  Don  Rodrigo  would  have  amused  his  sister 
much  longer,  under  pretence  of  his  wishing  to  speak 
to  her  on  some  important  business.  Don  Rodrigo 
had  fully  intended  this,  but  was  unable  to  detain 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      219 

Elvira,  who  suddenly  started  from  him  for  the  purpose 
of  interrupting  Daraxa' s  conversation  with  Don  Jaymd. 
The  dumb  scene  that  passed  between  these  four  per- 
sons gave  rise  to  many  thoughts.  Don  Rodrigo  and 
his  sister  observed  that  Daraxa  appeared  much  de- 
jected, they  even  thought  that  she  must  have  been 
crying,  upon  which  they  each  formed  different 
opinions.  As  for  Ozmin,  as  he  had  nothing  more 
to  do  in  the  arbour,  and  as  he  only  personated  Am- 
brosio,  it  was  easy  for  him  to  escape  from  this 
awkward  situation  by  retiring. 

Don  Rodrigo  quickly  followed  him,  and  full  of 
impatience  to  learn  what  had  passed  between  him  and 
Daraxa,  whom  he  began  to  suspect  strongly  of  some 
extraordinary  understanding  together,  he  asked  him 
whether  he  had  acquitted  himself  of  his  commission, 
and  whether  he  had  any  good  things  to  communicate. 

"  My  lord,"  answered  Ambrosio,  "  you  allowed 
me  so  short  a  time  to  converse  with  the  beautiful 
Moor  that  it  has  not  been  possible  for  me  to  render 
you  any  important  service." 

"  I  grant,"  replied  Don  Rodrigo,  "  that  you  can- 
not have  had  a  very  long  discourse  with  her,  but 
you  must  needs  have  made  good  use  of  that  time, 
since  Daraxa  appears  to  be  so  much  moved  by  what 
you  have  imparted  to  her  that  I  am  well  convinced 
she  must  even  have  been  shedding  tears." 

"  Those  tears,"  replied  the  false  gardener,  "  may 
possibly  have  been  the  bitter  fruits  of  the  liberty  I 
took  in  speaking  to  her  of  your  passion,  with  which 
she  was  perhaps  not  well  pleased." 


220  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

"  Have  you  no  better  reasons  than  these  to  tell 
me?"  cried  Don  Rodrigo. 

"  No,  my  lord,"  said  Ambrosio.  "  I  shall  merely 
add  that  this  lady's  heart  may  probably  be  already 
engaged.  A  young  lady  who  has  been  educated  in 
so  gallant  a  Court  as  that  of  Granada,  may  very 
likely  have  become  sensible  to  the  sighs  of  some 
nobleman  of  that  country." 

"  I  agree  with  you,"  replied  the  jealous  Don  Rodrigo 
sharply;  "and,  moreover,  I  think  your  object  in 
being  here  is  less  to  serve  me  than  that  happy  rival." 

"You  do  me  an  injustice,"  replied  the  gardener; 
"  you  wrong  me  much  by  suspecting  that  I  would 
betray  you  for  an  Infidel." 

"  Infidel  or  Christian,"  cried  Don  Rodrigo  impera- 
tively, "  I  begin  to  suspect  you — you  are  rather 
too  wise  for  a  gardener;  and  when  I  call  to  mind 
all  your  interesting  little  Moorish  discourses  together, 
I  am  the  more  confirmed  in  my  suspicions.  But  look 
to  it,"  added  he  in  a  menacing  tone;  "you  are  in 
a  family  where  knaveries  are  not  long  concealed." 
Having  thus  said  he  returned  to  the  arbour  to  the 
ladies,  who  still  preserved  the  most  profound  silence. 
No  sooner  had  he  arrived  than  they  rose  and  retired 
to  their  own  apartments. 

Don  Rodrigo,  who  at  that  time  felt  no  desire  to 
enter  into  conversation  with  them,  allowed  them  to 
depart  without  any  observation  and  walked  round 
the  garden  alone.  Soon  after  this  he  met  his  father, 
who  was  diverting  himself  with  looking  over  his 
flowers,  and  he  stopped  to  bear  him  company.  Don 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  VALFARACHE.     221 

Lewis  was  speaking  to  Ambrosio,  professing  himself 
well  satisfied  with  his  attention  and  skill  in  the 
culture  of  his  flowers. 

"  He  is  possibly  more  skilful  than  is  to  be  wished," 
said  Don  Rodrigo,  with  an  affected  grin;  "and, 
if  I  am  not  deceived,  understands  more  than  one 
employment." 

The  old  marquis,  whose  attention  was  entirely 
engrossed  in  looking  over  his  parterre,  did  not  at  first 
comprehend  the  meaning  of  his  son's  remark,  and 
answered  without  reflection,  "  It  is  true  that  Am- 
brosio is  not  deficient  in  sense,  and  I  am  convinced 
that  I  shall  find  him  a  very  useful  servant." 

"I  very  much  doubt  that  he  is  here  with  that 
intention,"  replied  Don  Rodrigo;  "at  least  I  am 
persuaded  that  others  will  have  better  reason  than 
you  to  be  satisfied  with  his  services.  Shall  I  tell  you 
my  sentiments  ?  I  am  of  opinion  that  he  is  more 
devoted  to  Daraxa's  interests  than  to  yours,  or  at  least 
that  he  is  the  agent  of  some  one  of  that  lady's  lovers." 

"  Ah .  my  son,"  interrupted  Don  Lewis,  laughing 
heartily.  "  I  am  now  convinced  that  you  are  really 
in  love." 

"  If  I  am,"  said  Don  Rodrigo,  "  I  can  assure  you 
that  my  love  assists  me  to  see  instead  of  blinding  me. 
I  can  believe  my  own  eyesight." 

"  What  have  you  seen,  then  ?  "  cried  the  old  man ; 
"  tell  me  distinctly,  for  you  shall  find  that  I  am 
Don  Lewis  de  Padilla,  son  of  Don  Caspar,  who  was 
reckoned  the  most  difficult  to  be  deceived  among 
men  in  the  age  in  which  he  lived;  and  I  also  have 


222  MATEO  ALE  MAN. 

had  the  honour  to  be  told  a  hundred  times  that  I  am 
even  more  prudent  and  circumspect  than  my  father. 
If  the  choice  that  the  queen  made  of  me  to  take 
charge  of  the  beautiful  Moor  is  not  sufficient  to 
make  you  easy  upon  this  subject,  inquire  of  the 
wisest  persons  at  Court  whether  I  am  a  man  to  be 
imposed  on.  In  a  word,  son,  I  am  turned  of  fifty; 
and  if,  when  I  was  only  half  that  age,  they  had 
brought  me  not  merely  an  Arragonian,  but  even  the 
most  cunning  fellow  among  the  Greeks,  it  would 
only  have  been  necessary  for  me  to  look  at  him 
attentively  for  one  moment  to  have  penetrated  the 
inmost  recesses  of  his  soul." 

"  My  lord,"  replied  Don  Rodrigo,  "  no  one  on 
earth  is  more  persuaded  than  I  am  of  the  truth  of 
what  you  say;  but  yet  I  cannot  but  think  that  this 
Ambrosio  only  serves  you  to  have  the  means  of 
making  himself  useful  to  another.  He  makes  him- 
self too  familiar  with  Daraxa;  as  soon  as  he  sees  her 
he  addresses  her  in  the  Moorish  language,  which  she 
always  answers  in  so  complaisant  a  manner  that  I 
am  convinced  they  have  been  long  acquainted.  In 
short,  I  would  not  swear  but  that  Ambrosio  is  any- 
thing rather  than  a  gardener." 

Don  Lewis,  instead  of  allowing  that  he  could 
possibly  have  been  deceived  on  this  occasion,  became 
enraged  with  spite  at  seeing  himself  suspected  of 
having  been  made  a  dupe  of. 

"You  are  a  strange  man!'*  said  he  to  his  son. 
"Why  did  you  allow  these  liberties  of  which  you 
complain?  Do  you  not  know  that  it  is  a  capital 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.     223 

V 

crime  among  us  for  a  servant  to  lift  his  eyes  towards 
his  mistress?  Do  you  but  treat  this  servant  like  the 
rest,  and  I  will  be  answerable  for  his  fidelity.  In 
regard  to  Daraxa,  trust  me  to  take  proper  care' of  her. 
Rest  in  peace;  I  am  on  the  watch  night  and  day, 
and  am  well  informed  of  everything  that  passes  in 
the  family." 

Respect  kept  Don  Rodrigo  silent,  who  quitted  his 
father  shortly  after  this  to  wait  on  some  one  who 
desired  to  speak  to  him. 

After  he  had  left  him  the  old  marquis,  in  spite  of 
what  he  had  been  just  saying,  fell  into  a  deep  musing, 
and  a  thousand  vexatious  reflections  occurred  to  him, 
which  filled  his  mind  with  suspicions.  To  complete 
his  present  troubles  his  chief  gardener  came  up  to 
him  and  said,  "  My  lord,  I  have  something  of  im- 
portance to  communicate  to  you.  I  heard  such  a 
noise  in  the  garden  last  night  that  I  am  convinced 
there  were  several  people  round  your  house.  Had  I 
dared  to  have  quitted  my  own,  contrary  to  your 
orders,  I  should  be  better  able  to  tell  you  more  on 
the  subject." 

"People  in  my  garden  at  night!"  cried  Don 
Lewis  astonished  ;  "  they  must  have  come  from  your 
lodge  then." 

"  No,  my  lord,"  answered  the  master  gardener ; 
"  Ambrosio  and  my  servant  have  not  the  power 
of  leaving  the  house,  the  door  of  which  I  am  most 
particular  in  shutting  every  night,  and  never  trust 
the  key  out  of  my  own  hands." 

The  old  marquis  knew  not  what  to  think.     "  Who 


224  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

can  have  entered  my  garden?"  said  he  to  himself; 
"  and  what  motives  can  they  have  had  ?  I  am  in  no 
fear  of  thieves;  the  height  of  the  wall  is  sufficient 
to  deter  them.  I  cannot  imagine  it  to  be  one  of 
Daraxa's  lovers,  who  surely  could  not  be  so  fool- 
hardy as  to  expose  himself  to  so  great  danger  for 
the  sake  of  merely  seeing  her  from  a  window.  My 
gardener  must  certainly  have  fancied  all  this,  or  the 
noise  must  have  proceeded  from  some  of  my  own 
servants.  If  I  have  reason  to  suspect  any  one,  it  is 
that  knave  Ambrosio,  in  respect  of  whom  my  son 
may  be  more  in  the  right  than  I  choose  to  allow." 

Don  Lewis,  who  was  very  uneasy  under  these 
thoughts,  ordered  his  gardener  not  to  mention  a 
syllable  of  the  matter  either  to  Ambrosio  or  his  other 
servant,  but  to  keep  a  strict  watch  that  very  night, 
and  if  he  chanced  to  hear  any  more  noise  to  dis- 
charge a  musket,  and  sally  out  at  the  same  time  well 
armed.  "  For  my  own  part,"  added  the  marquis,  "  I 
shall  myself,  with  the  rest  of  my  servants,  be  also  pre- 
pared, and  the  wretches  who  wish  either  to  rob  or 
dishonour  me  will  be  cunning  indeed  if  they  escape 
us  all."  After  having  thus  issued  his  orders  he 
withdrew  to  prepare  for  the  mighty  feat  that  he 
contemplated. 

If  the  two  ladies,  Don  Lewis,  and  Don  Rodrigo 
were  thus  uneasy,  Ozmin  was  not  without  his  share. 
He  was  not  one  who  was  easily  alarmed,  but  his 
rival's  last  words  to  him  seemed  to  deserve  some 
attention  in  order  to  prevent,  if  possible,  any  ill  that 
might  accrue  to  him.  He  had  no  weapon  but  a 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.     225 

poniard,  with  which  it  was  not  possible  to  defend  him- 
self against  the  thirty  servants  that  were  employed  in 
the  family  should  they  attempt  to  attack  him.  From 
what  he  observed  he  felt  convinced  that  some  mis- 
fortune was  at  hand.  He  had  seen  the  two  PadiJlas 
speaking  together  with  earnestness,  and  had  after- 
wards remarked  the  serious  conversation  between  Don 
Lewis  and  the  chief  gardener.  From  all  these  circum- 
stances he  did  not  doubt  that  he  was  the  subject  of 
their  discourse,  so  that,  foreseeing  that  some  cowardly 
and  wicked  attempt  upon  his  life  was  to  be  dreaded, 
he  resolved  to  leave  the  place  as  soon  as  he  had  com- 
municated his  intention  to  Daraxa,  and  concerted 
measures  with  her  to  see  each  other  again  at  the 
queen's  return. 

Having  formed  this  resolution,  he  walked  towards 
the  place  where  the  letters  from  the  ladies  were 
usually  brought,  and  found  9116  lying  there  from 
Elvira,  who  sent  him  word  that  she  should  expect  to 
see  him  that  night,  as  she  had  something  very  parti- 
cular to  impart  to  him.  He  little  thought  that 
Elvira  appointed  this  interview  with  him  unknown 
to  the  beautiful  Moor,  to  have  the  opportunity  of 
conversing  with  him  in  private.  He  conceived  that 
Daraxa  would  also  be  there  as  usual,  and  that  he 
might  communicate  to  her  in  their  own  language, 
even  in  the  presence  of  her  friend,  what  he  wished 
her  to  know  previous  to  their  separation.  But  let  us 
leave  Ozmin  until  the  time  appointed  for  this  inter- 
view, and  return  to  notice  the  alarming  preparations 
that  were  making  by  Don  Lewis  to  interrupt  it. 

VOL.  i.  P 


226  MATEO  ALE  MAN. 

He  caused  all  the  arms,  offensive  and  defensive, 
that  could  be  found  in  the  house  to  be  carried  by  two 
faithful  domestics  into  his  own  apartment,  such  as 
muskets,  musketoons,  pistols,  halberts,  pikes,  parti- 
zans.,  helmets,  and  targets,  the  whole  of  them  covered 
with  rust ;  but  the  danger  was  too  near  at  hand  to 
think  of  having  them  cleaned.  One  would  have 
thought,  from  the  active  and  terrible  preparations 
that  were  going  forward,  that  it  was  at  least  appre- 
hended that  the  enemy  was  advancing  to  take  the 
house  by  assault  j  for  though  Don  Lewis  had  never 
been  himself  in  the  wars,  yet,  being  son  and  grandson 
to  general  officers,  he  would  not  have  it  said  that  he 
knew  nothing  of  the  matter.  He  despatched  one  of 
his  most  trusty  servants  to  purchase  powder  and  ball 
sufficient  to  load  about  seventeen  or  eighteen  fire- 
arms, which  he  designed  to  entrust  to  some  of  the 
bravest  of  his  domestics.  All  these  preparations 
were  made  without  any  noise,  being  aware  that  great 
undertakings  required  secrecy.  Everything  was  so 
well  conducted,  that  he  even  managed  to  conceal  his 
designs  from  his  son  and  daughter,  on  account  of 
their  affection  for  Daraxa,  who  had  not  the  least 
suspicion  of  what  was  going  forward. 

When  he  had  thus  arranged  everything  agreeably 
to  his  desire,  and  the  clock  had  struck  eleven,  his 
two  confidential  servants  brought  up  all  the  other 
domestics,  whom  he  posted  in  different  places,  distri- 
buting the  arms  among  them  according  as  he  judged 
each  able  to  make  use  of  them.  He  disposed  of  the 
greater  part  of  them  in  the  highest  rooms  in  the 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  DALFARACHE.      227 

house,  whence  they  commanded  a  view  of  the  garden, 
and  were  themselves  out  of  sight;  and  he  forbade 
them  from  firing  without  first  apprising  him  of  what- 
ever they  might  see.  He  placed  himself  in  a  closet 
directly  opposite  Daraxa's  chamber,  choosing  this 
post  for  himself  as  one  that  particularly  required  his 
immediate  vigilance  and  attention.  He  was  accom- 
panied by  his  equerry,  an  old  servant,  whose  bravery 
was  equal  to  his  master's,  and  who,  from  the  bottom 
of  his  heart,  wished  all  the  disturbers  of  his  sleep  at 
the  devil.  But  the  die  was  cast;  and,  since  posted  on 
bivouac  duty,  they  could  not  now  in  honour  retreat 
until  they  had  fully  ascertained  that  there  was  nothing 
to  be  feared  from  the  enemy. 

The  old  marquis,  in  his  nightgown,  nightcap,  and 
slippers,  with  a  dark  lantern  in  his  hand,  was  most 
attentively  on  the  watch  at  the  window.  It  was  one 
of  those  clear,  starlight  nights  so  common  in  hot 
countries,  from  which  circumstance  they  soon  dis- 
covered the  shadow  of  a  man  at  the  distance  of  about 
two  hundred  paces.  No  sooner  did  Don  Lewis  hear 
the  clock  strike  twelve,  than  recollecting  that  it  was 
about  that  hour  his  gardener  had  heard  the  noise 
the  preceding  night,  his  heart  began  to  beat  most 
violently,  and  he  was  seized  with  a  cold  shivering  in 
all  his  limbs.  This  agitation,  which  sufficiently  be- 
trayed the  feelings  of  his  soul  in  time  of  danger,  was 
by  no  means  diminished  when  he  thought  that  he 
could  perceive  somebody  walking  along  the  wall  on 
the  side  next  the  gallery.  To  be  more  convinced  that 
he  was  not  mistaken,  he  pointed  to  the  place  that  his 


228  MATBO  ALEMAN. 

equerry  might  also  look,  and  asked  him  if  he  saw 
anything ;  but  he,  either  that  his  sight  was  really  not 
so  good  as  his  master's,  or  through  fear,  persisted  in 
asserting  that  he  saw  nothing. 

They  were  both,  however,  soon  released  from  doubt 
by  two  of  their  sentinels  coining  up  to  apprise  them 
that  there  was  a  man  conversing  at  the  gallery  win- 
dow with  some  person  within  the  house.  Don  Lewis 
was  the  more  astonished  at  this  information,  having 
all  the  keys  of  the  house  in  his  own  possession.  These 
were  brought  to  him  every  night  at  nine  o'clock,  so 
that  he  could  not  possibly  conceive  who  it  could  be 
that  was  supporting  the  conversation,  either  from 
within  or  without,  but  could  think  of  no  other  but 
Daraxa,  whom  one  of  her  lovers  must  have  come  to 
visit  at  midnight  through  the  assistance  of  one  of  the 
servants  that  he  had  bribed  to  introduce  him  into  the 
garden,  and  that  she  must  have  procured  another  key 
for  the  gallery  door  by  means  of  the  same  agent. 
This  conjecture  appeared  the  most  probable.  He 
desired  all  his  followers  to  be  in  readiness,  and  formed 
the  bold  design  of  beginning  the  expedition  himself 
by  surprising  the  beautiful  Moor,  so  that  she  could 
not  deny  her  crime.  It  is  true  that  not  daring  to 
venture  alone  upon  so  over-bold  a  project  he  took 
with  him  two  of  the  most  resolute  of  his  musketeers, 
and  his  intrepid  equerry  before  mentioned. 

To  make  as  little  noise  as  possible  our  commander 
threw  off  his  slippers,  and  the  others  their  shoes,  in 
which  state  they  arrived  at  the  gallery,  the  door  of 
which  they  found  open.  Don  Lewis  advanced  until 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.     229 

he  heard  the  voices;  he  then  made. a  stand  to  listen 
to  what  was  said,  and  overheard  the  following  words : 
"  I  have  too  much  esteem  for  you  to  resolve  to  make 
you  unhappy.  It  behoves  me  to  consider  your  high 
birth,  and  you  should  reflect  on  the  present  condition 
of  my  fortune.  I  am  a  cavalier  who  must  seek  to 
make  my  fortune  at  Court,  where  I  have  need  of 
support.  Who  then  would  befriend  me  after  having 
drawn  upon  myself  the  hatred  of  so  powerful  a  lord 
as  your  father?  let  us  not,  therefore,  do  anything  of 
which  we  may  repent  as  loner  as  we  live." 

The  marquis  immediately  knew  the  voice  of  the 
pretended  Ambrosio;  and  notwithstanding  the  spite 
which  he  felt  towards  him  for  having  thus  duped  him, 
he  could  not  but  admire  his  virtue  and  prudence  on 
this  occasion.  Thinking  that  this  discourse  was 
addressed  to  Daraxa,  he  was  not  a  little  curious  to 
hear  her  answer.  But  how  was  he  shocked  when  he 
heard  his  own  daughter,  whose  voice  he  could  not  mis- 
take, reply  to  the  cavalier  in  these  words,  "  Can  love 
reason  thus?  have  you  scrupled  to  deceive  my  father 
by  a  stratagem  which  subjects  you  to  many  dangers? 
have  you  then  come  hither  at  the  risk  of  your  life, 
merely  to  lose  such  precious  time  in  teaching  me  my 
duty  ?  Instead  of  abandoning  yourself  to  the  joy 
with  which  my  favourable  sentiments  ought  to  have 
inspired  you,  you  are  the  one  to  throw  difficulties  in 
their  way ;  I  did  not  expect  so  cold  an  acknowledg- 
ment of  your  gratitude.  Can  the  consideration  of 
fortune  withhold  you  when  I  declare  that  the  summit 
of  all  my  desires  is  to  be  yours  ?  Why  need  you  fear 


23o  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

my  father?  the  Court  of  Ferdinand  is  not  the  only 
Court  in  which  a  man  of  your  merit  may  expect 
advancement.  But  may  you  ever  seek  in  vain  to 
establish  yourself  advantageously  in  any  Court! 
Elvira  would  ever  prefer  living  with  you  in  the  most 
obscure  retreat  to  the  greatest  pomp  and  splendour 
that  can  be  conferred  on  her  by  her  union  with 
another." 

She  was  going  on  thus  when  a  musket  was  dis- 
charged, followed  in  a  moment  by  ten  or  twelve 
others,  with  the  reports  of  which  the  gallery  re- 
sounded. This  dreadful  noise  so  frightened  the 
daughter  of  Don  Lewis,  that,  thinking  of  nothing 
but  her  fears,  she  immediately  betook  herself  to  flight. 
But  her  father,  who  had  waylaid  her  in  the  passage, 
seizing  her  suddenly  by  the  arm,  "  Is  it  thus,"  said 
he,  "  wretched  girl,  that  you  dishonour  the  illustrious 
blood  of  Padilla  ?  "  At  the  voice  and  action  of  the 
marquis,  Donna  Elvira,  whose  spirits  were  but  too 
much  troubled  by  the  first  shock,  uttered  a  piercing 
shriek,  and  fell  into  her  father's  arms,  who,  finding 
that  she  remained  quite  senseless,  opened  his  dark 
lantern  to  look  at  her,  and  she  seemed  to  him  in  so 
deplorable  a  condition  that  in  spite  of  his  anger  he 
was  much  affected.  He  really  loved  her;  but  not 
being  able  to  bear  the  sight  any  longer  without  re- 
lenting he  left  her  in  the  care  of  his  equerry. 

But  the  more  he  was  touched  with  compassion  at 
the  sight  of  his  daughter  in  such  a  state,  the  more 
eager  did  he  feel  to  take  revenge  on  the  insolent 
author  of  all  this  disorder.  He  now  longed  onlv  for 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      231 

Ambrosio's  death,  whose  prudence  he  had  but  a 
moment  before  been  applauding.  He  assembled  all 
his  men  of  arms,  tucked  up  his  nightgown,  over 
which  he  put  on  his  armour,  a  helmet  over  his  night- 
cap, with  a  target  on  his  left  arm,  and  a  long  pike 
in  his  right  hand ;  and  this  brave  captain  in  his 
slippers  and  gauntlets  caused  the  garden  gate  to  be 
thrown  open,  through  which  his  troop  defiled  three 
abreast;  the  musketeers  marched  first,  and  the  hal- 
berdiers brought  up  the  rear,  followed  by  the  marquis 
himself.  This  little  army,  composed  of  soldiers  worthy 
of  their  captain,  went  in  search  of  the  enemy;  during 
their  march  they  were  reinforced  by  the  gardener, 
who  joined  them  with  a  small  sword  at  his  side,  an 
arquebuse  on  his  shoulder,  and  two  pistols  in  his  belt. 
He  assured  them  that  he  had  seen  the  enemy,  and 
that  there  were  two  of  them,  and  that  if  he  had  dared 
to  have  disobeyed  his  master's  orders  he  should  have 
fired  upon  them.  Don  Lewis  was  astonished  at  this 
information,  and  having  learnt  which  way  they  went 
ordered  his  troop  to  take  that  direction. 

What  had  become  of  Ozmin  all  this  while?  As 
soon  as  he  perceived  that  Elvira  had  taken  flight  at 
the  report  of  the  firearms  which  had  interrupted 
their  conversation,  and  which  he  found  had  not  been 
levelled  at  him,  he  retreated  precipitately  from  the 
gallery  with  the  intention  of  taking  shelter  in  an 
arbour,  where  he  determined  to  sell  his  life  dearly  if 
attacked.  But  a  man  who  followed  close  behind 
him  obliged  him  to  stop,  saying :  "  Signer  Don 
Jayme,  you  have  need  of  assistance ;  accept  therefore 


J32  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

of  mine:  it  is  you  for  whom  they  are  searching; 
accept  my  services  without  delay,  if  you  do  not  wish 
to  be  assassinated  by  a  troop  of  rascally  servants, 
who  will  shortly  rush  upon  you." 

Ozmin,  as  much  surprised  at  hearing  himself 
styled  Don  Jayme',  as  at  meeting  with  so  obliging  a 
stranger,  answered  :  "  I  know  not  who  you  are,  nor 
why  you  interest  yourself  in  my  behalf;  but  who- 
ever you  be,  you  cannot  but  be  a  cavalier  of  great 
worth  :  I  will  request  the  loan  of  some  of  your  arms, 
having  but  a  poniard  to  defend  myself  with  ;  but  can 
accept  of  no  other  assistance  from  you,  without 
abusing  your  extreme  kindness.  I  can  by  no  means 
suffer  so  brave  a  man  to  expose  his  life  for  my  sake." 

"  No,  no,"  replied  the  unknown,  "  do  not  imagine 
that  I  will  leave  you  to  perish,  when  I  may  render 
you  assistance.  I  have  two  good  pistols,  one  of 
which  is  at  your  service,  and  I  will  fight  at  your 
side ;  or,  if  you  wish  me  to  retire,  you  must  accom- 
pany me." 

"  I  believe,"  said  Ozmin,  "  that  it  will  be  the  wiser 
way.  We  shall  get  no  great  honour  in  employing 
our  valour  against  such  rascals.  But  how  can  we 
quit  the  garden  ?  " 

"  That  you  shall  see,"  replied  the  stranger,  "  you 
have  only  to  follow  me." 

These  two  cavaliers  then  ran  together  to  that  part 
of  the  garden  where  the  wall  had  been  repaired, 
against  which  was  erected  a  long  ladder.  They  had 
here  some  slight  difference  as  to  who  should  first 
ascend,  each  yielding  the  precedence  to  the  other. 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      233 

After  many  compliments  which  two  such  courageous 
men  could  not  fail  to  make  on  such  an  occasion, 
Ozmin-  was  prevailed  on  to  ascend  first,  to  complete 
the  noble  behaviour  of  his  companion.  The  gendar- 
merie of  Don  Lewis  had  taken  quite  an  opposite 
direction,  so  that  they  had  abundance  of  time  to  get 
over  the  wall  by  means  of  this  ladder,  which  they 
drew  up  after  them  to  prevent  the  marquis  from 
ascertaining  in  what  manner  the  pretended  Ambrosio 
had  escaped  his  fury.  On  the  other  side  of  the  wall 
was  another  ladder  by  which  they  descended  into  the 
street,  and  which  was  guarded  by  five  or  six  stout 
footmen  well  armed,  who  had  been  kept  in  readiness 
to  throw  themselves  into  the  garden  on  the  first 
signal. 

Ozmin,  judging  from  this  that  his  generous  friend 
was  not  a  man  of  common  rank,  requested  to  be 
informed  to  whom  he  was  so  much  obliged. 

But  the  unknown  gentleman  answered  that  he 
would  explain  this  to  him  at  his  house.  "  As  you 
are  a  stranger,"  added  he,  "  you  cannot  be  aware 
what  sort  of  a  man  Don  Lewis  is,  of  whom,  I  assure 
you,  you  cannot  be  too  cautious.  I  make  you  an 
offer,  therefore,  of  my  house,  where  you  will  be 
secure  from  his  resentment  by  remaining  with  me, 
until  we  see  in  what  manner  the  Padillas  resolve  to 
prosecute  this  affair." 

Ozmin  was  charmed  with  the  generous  and  noble 
manner  in  which  this  offer  was  made,  and  not  being 
able  to  resist  the  earnest  entreaties  of  the  cavalier  to 
accept  of  his  house,  accompanied  him  thither.  When 


234 


MATEO  ALEMAN. 


they  beheld  each  other  by  the  light  of  the  flambeaux, 
they  each  looked  at  the  other  with  an  attention 
mingled  with  surprise,  as  if  they  thought  they  had 
met  somewhere  before.  The  master  of  the  house 
was  the  first  to  distinguish  Ozmin  by  an  imperfect 
recollection  that  he  had  of  his  features;  and  being; 
convinced  that  he  was  not  mistaken,  he  cried  with 
transport,  embracing  him  :  "  What  happiness  do  I 
experience  in  thus  meeting  a  man  to  whom  I  owe 
my  life!  I  cannot  be  mistaken:  you  must  be  he 
who  preserved  me  from  the  fury  of  the  bull  on  the 
last  day  of  the  sports." 

"  My  lord,"  answered  the  Moor,  smiling  with  a 
modest  air,  "  you  have  now  well  repaid  me  for  that 
service  in  retrieving  me  from  a  danger,  in  which 
without  your  assistance  I  must  inevitably  have 
perished." 

"  No,  no,"  replied  Don  Alonso  de  Zuniga,  "  I  am 
still  in  arrears  with  you.  At  the  very  time  that  you 
rescued  me  from  certain  death,  I  had  given  you  but 
little  cause  to  expose  your  own  life  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  mine." 

They  passed  the  remainder  of  the  night  in  con- 
versing together.  Don  Alonso,  who  had  no  doubt 
that  Ozmin  was  really  Don  Jay  me*  Vivez,  and  that 
he  was  enamoured  of  Donna  Elvira,  related  to  him 
in  what  manner  he  had  heard  of  his  intrigue.  "  This 
made  me  desire,"  added  he,  "  to  form  an  acquaint- 
ance with  you,  to  commence  which  was  the  object 
of  my  entering  Don  Lewis's  garden  to-night.  Be- 
sides which,  as  I  love  Daraxa,  the  intimate  friend  of 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      235 

your  mistress,  I  considered  that  our  friendship  might 
become  useful  to  both  our  loves." 

Although  Ozmin  felt  great  repugnance  in  conceal- 
ing his  real  sentiments,  he  .did  not  wish  to  undeceive 
Don  Alonso,  thinking  it  more  prudent  to  pass  for 
Don  Jayine*.  After  a  long  conversation,  Zuniga 
conducted  his  guest  to  the  apartment  that  was  pre- 
pared for  him,  and  leaving  him  to  his  rest,  retired 
also  to  his  own.  But  Ozmin  not  being  able  to  sleep, 
sent  for  Orviedo  as  soon  as  it  was  day,  to  impart  to 
this  faithful  servant  his  last  night's  adventure,  as  well 
as  to  desire  him  to  bring  him  some  apparel  more 
suitable  than  Ambrosio's  to  support  the  character 
of  Don  Jayme'. 

It  is  a  misfortune  to  which  all  great  houses  that 
fceep  a  number  of  servants  are  liable,  that  whatever 
nappens  cannot  long  remain  a  secret.  The  story  of 
the  pretended  Ambrosio  was  known  all  over  the  town 
the  very  next  day,  where  it  was  related  in  various 
ways,  but  all  at  the  expense  of  Donna  Elvira,  at 
which  Ozmin  was  extremely  mortified. 

Don  Alonso  and  Ozmin  became  in  a  few  days  the 
best  friends  in  the  world;  sympathy  seemed  to  attach 
them  to  each  other,  or  rather,  they  each  made  daily 
discoveries  of  the  other's  amiable  qualities.  They 
were  both  most  anxious  to  know  how  things  went 
on  at  the  ATarquis  de  Padilla's.  This  they  could  only 
karn  from  Claricia,  from  whom  they  received  no 
tidings,  for  this  servant,  who  was  known  to  be  most 
in  Elvira's  confidence,  was  more  strictly  watched  than 
the  others.  She  managed,  however,  at  length  to  elude 


236  MATEO  ALE  MAN. 

their  vigilance,  and  brought  Don  Jayine*  a  letter  at 
Don  Alonso's,  containing  the  detail  they  so  ardently 
longed  for.  Claricia  informed  Vivez  that  his  old 
patron,  enraged  that  the  pretended  Ambrosio  had 
escaped  his  fury,  had  employed  ten  or  a  dozen  men 
to  go  through  Seville  in  search  of  him,  who  till  then 
had  sought  him  in  vain  ;  that  Elvira  was  very  ill,  and 
that  Daraxa  had  also  been  much  indisposed  from  the 
share  she  took  in  her  friend's  affliction ;  that,  lastly, 
Don  Lewis  was  so  much  ashamed  and  vexed  at  the 
whole  affair  that  he  would  see  nobody,  but  had  made 
up  his  mind  to  retire  into  the  country  until  all  these 
unpleasant  rumours  had  blown  over. 

Claricia's  letter  was  a  fresh  topic  of  conversation 
for  the  two  cavaliers,  and  amused  Don  Alonso  ex- 
ceedingly, who,  having  no  regard  for  the  house  of 
Padilla,  was  delighted  at  the  recital  of  this  adventure. 
Ozmin  having  so  good  an  opportunity  of  giving  some 
account  of  himself  to  Daraxa,  wrote  her  a  very  long 
letter  in  the  Moorish  language,  which  he  sent  by 
Claricia.  Daraxa,  who  was  most  anxious  on  his 
account,  fearing  that  he  had  been  wounded  by  the 
many  musket  shots  which,  as  she  thought,  had  been 
fired  at  him,  was  overjoyed  to  hear  of  his  good  luck, 
and  that  she  might  now  have  the  means  of  returning 
him  an  answer  by  the  same  messenger. 

A  few  days  after  this,  the  old  marquis  set  out  with 
his  family  and  all  his  servants  for  a  country  house  of 
his  own,  at  about  a  league  beyond  Seville.  This 
would  have  proved  very  vexatious  to  Ozmin,  who 
feared  that  by  this  absence  he  should  be  deprived  of 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  &ALFARACHE.      237 

Claricia,  whose  mediation  was  so  great  an  advantage 
to  him,  had  not  Don  Alonso  consoled  him  by  saying, 
"  We  ought  to  rejoice  at  Don  Lewis's  being  in  the 
country.  Within  about  two  miles  from  his  house, 
I  have  a  pretty  little  seat  which  I  visit  occasionally. 
We  have  nothing  to  do  but  to  get  there  as  privately 
as  possible.  We  shall  find  it  more  easy  to  obtain 
accounts  of  our  mistresses  there  than  in  this  city,  and 
may  even  find  occasional  opportunities  of  seeing  and 
conversing  with  them." 

Vivez  was  much  pleased  with  this  design,  and  the 
two  friends  left  Seville  the  next  morning  before  day- 
light, accompanied  by  Orviedo  and  two  footmen  only. 
As  soon  as  they  arrived  at  Don  Alonso's  country 
house,  the  young  lord  employed  a  sharp  peasant  lad 
to  deliver  a  letter  into  Claricia's  own  hands,  by  which 
she  was  apprised  that  the  following  day  she  would 
meet  in  the  wood,  which  is  about  two  hundred  paces 
from  the  marquis's  house,  two  young  shepherds  who 
were  dying  with  desire  to  have  a  little  chat  with  her. 

Claricia,  who  was  not  now  so  strictly  watched  as 
she  had  been  in  the  city,  soon  found  an  opportunity 
of  stealing  out  of  the  house,  and  ran  to  the  place 
appointed,  where  she  found  Don  Alonso  and  Don 
Jayme  dressed  as  peasants.  She  informed  them  that 
the  ladies  were  both  well,  but  so  completely  prisoners 
that  they  were  scarcely  permitted  to  walk  in  the 
garden.  "  However,"  continued  she,  "  if  Don  Lewis 
go  to-morrow  to  a  farm  of  his  about  three  leagues  off, 
on  an  affair  of  consequence  which  requires  his  pre- 
sence, I  think  I  may  be  able  to  obtain  you  an  inter 


238  MATEO  A  L  EM  AN. 

view  with  them.  Don  Rodrigo,"  added  she,  "has 
just  set  out  for  Seville,  and  is  not  expected  back  for 
two  days." 

If  the  cavaliers  were  charmed  at  the  flattering  pro- 
spect that  Claricia  held  out  to  them,  she  was  equally 
well  pleased  with  the  presents  that  she  received  as  a 
recompense  for  her  attention.  After  having  taken 
leave  of  them,  she  returned  to  the  house  and  com- 
municated to  the  ladies  the  particulars  of  the  conver- 
sation she  had  just  had  with  the  young  noblemen. 

The  next  morning  everything  seemed  propitious  to 
the  lovers'  wishes;  the  marquis  set  out  for  his  farm, 
and  the  ladies  prepared  to  profit  by  so  favourable  an 
opportunity.  They  dressed  themselves  as  peasant 
girls,  in  conformity  with  the  disguises  of  their  lovers, 
and  left  the  house  attended  by  Claricia  and  Laida. 
They  soon  reached  the  wood,  where  their  shepherds 
were  already  waiting  for  them,  and  met  with  joyful 
congratulations  at  seeing  each  other  again,  after  which 
they  laughed  and  amused  themselves  exceedingly  by 
looking  at  each  other  in  their  several  fantastical  dis- 
guises. Parties  of  this  sort  generally  create  a  vast 
deal  of  pleasure,  but  do  not  always  end  so  pleasantly 
as  they  begin. 

They  were  conversing  on  general  subjects,  which 
was  rendered  more  agreeable  to  each  by  being  with 
those  whom  they  loved,  and  were  proceeding  to 
penetrate  into  the  more  private  walks  of  the  grove, 
when  they  perceived  through  the  trees  two  real 
peasants  coming  towards  them.  They  conceived 
them  to  be  inhabitants  of  a  neighbouring  town  which 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  VALFAkACHE.      239 

formed  part  of  the  marquis's  manor,  and  they  were 
right  in  their  conjecture.  As  these  countrymen 
passed  by,  the  ladies  turned  their  backs  upon  them, 
that  they  might  not  see  their  faces,  and  Vivez  and 
Zuniga  followed  their  example  for  the  same  reason; 
but  the  fellows  instead  of  passing  on,  made  a  full 
stand,  and  one  of  them  gave  Don  Alonso  so  furious 
a  blow  with  a  cudgel  upon  his  back  and  head,  as 
almost  stunned  him.  Ozmin  having  heard  the  blow, 
turned  about  instantly  upon  the  other  fellow,  who 
was  preparing  to  serve  him  in  the  same  manner ;  but 
the  Moor  from  his  excessive  quickness,  warded  off 
the  blow  that  was  intended  for  his  head)  so  that  it 
slid  down  his  back;  after  which  he  struck  his  adver- 
sary so  tremendous  a  blow  with  a  large  stick  that  he 
carried  directly  on  his  face  that  he  broke  half  his  jaw 
and  laid  him  senseless  on  the  ground ;  then  flew  to 
the  assistance  of  his  friend,  who  stood  much  in  need 
of  it,  for  he  was  hard  put  to  it  by  his  antagonist. 
But  this  rascal  knew  better  than  to  await  the  coming 
up  of  a  man  who  had  just  made  his  comrade  bite  the 
dust;  he  ran  off  towards  the  town,  where  he  put 
them  all  in  alarm  by  giving  out  that  his  companion 
was  killed,  who,  in  fact,  was  only  wounded. 

During  this  skirmish  the  ladies  very  prudently  tool? 
flight,  and  returned  to  Don  Lewis's  house  in  the 
greatest  alarm,  and  most  anxious  to  know  how  this 
affair  would  end.  Their  uneasiness  was  not  ill- 
founded;  for  the  cavaliers,  who  would  have  acted 
wisely  in  decamping  as  quickly  as  possible,  remained 
so  long  on  the  scene  of  action  consulting  upon  what 


246  MATEO  ALEMAti. 

was  best  to  be  done,  that  they  afforded  sufficient  time 
for  three  ruffians  from  the  town  to  rush  upon  them 
with  drawn  swords.  One  of  these  fellows,  who  was 
superior  to  the  others  both  in  point  of  appearance 
and  courage,  came  up  before  the  rest,  and  advancing 
towards  Ozmin  in  a  most  determined  manner, 
endeavoured  to  run  him  through  the  body,  but  the 
Moor  received  the  thrust  in  the  most  skilful  manner 
with  his  stick,  and  returned  him  so  terrible  a  blow 
on  the  head  that  it  laid  him  lifeless  at  his  feet;  then 
seizing  the  sword  which  his  enemy  had  made  so  bad 
a  use  of,  he  was  prepared  to  receive  the  two  others, 
who  presently  attacked  him.  This  combat  lasted 
longer  than  either  that  had  preceded  it.  Ozmin 
being;  assailed  by  two  men  at  once,  was  fully  emjajred 
in  parrying  their  several  thrusts,  one  of  which 
wounded  him  slightly  in  the  hand.  Don  Alonso 
did  not  stand  idle  all  this  time,  but  laid  about  him  so 
furiously  with  his  stick,  that  he  at  length  decided  the 
victory,  by  a  chance  blow  which  fell  with  such  force 
on  the  right  arm  of  one  of  their  antagonists  that  he 
dropped  his  sword,  and  immediately  fled  wit'u  his 
companion  towards  the  town  as  precipitately  a?  their 
wounds  would  admit  of. 

Our  conquerors,  not  content  with  the  punkfimrnt 
they  had  already  inflicted,  were  so  imprudent  as  to 
pursue  them  to  the  very  entrance  of  tta  town, 
where  they  met  with  a  storm  which  was  just  ready 
to  burst  upon  them.  All  the  inhabitants  having 
heard  that  a  peasant  had  been  killed  in  the  wood, 
were  up  in  arms,  some  with  cudgels  and  ch*b* 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  PALFARACttE.     241 

pointed  with  iron,  and  others  with  old  swords,  fully 
determined  to  avenge  his  death.  Their  rage  increased 
when  the  two  fugitives  came  up  and  informed  them 
that  the  bailiff's  son  had  just  shared  the  same  fate  as 
the  countryman.  They  advanced  in  a  body,  and 
surrounded  the  supposed  murderers,  falling  upon 
them  without  mercy.  Ozmin,  whose  courage  was 
rather  increased  than  damped  by  the  appearance  of 
so  many  enemies,  opposed  their  rage  most  resolutely, 
dealing  his  blows  on  all  sides,  and  overthrowing  all 
that  resisted  him.  This  somewhat  moderated  the 
fury  of  the  rest.  Don  Alonso,  although  wounded, 
followed  his  example  with  equal  valour.  It  was, 
however,  impossible  to  resist  so  unequal  a  force,  and 
he  was  taken  prisoner;  soon  after  which,  his  friend, 
whom  the  mob  endeavoured  to  throw  down  by 
hurling  their  staves  between  his  legs,  was  unfortunate 
enough  to  stumble,  and  was  also  secured. 

I  leave  you  to  judge  whether  the  enraged  multitude 
would  have  spared  these  two  unfortunate  cavaliers 
who  were  now  completely  at  their  mercy.  But  as 
chance  would  have  it,  two  gentlemen  came  up  just 
at  that  moment  on  horseback,  accompanied  by  three  or 
four  servants,  who,  wishing  to  know  the  cause  of  this 
tumult,  broke  through  the  crowd  sword  in  hand, 
until  they  reached  the  two  prisoners,  in  one  of  whom 
they  recognised  Don  Alonso,  notwithstanding  his 
disguise,  and  though  his  face  was  covered  with  blood, 
and  rescued  him  with  great  difficulty  from  the  hands 
of  the  mob,  who  in  consequence  became  more  careful 

VOL.  I.  O 


243  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

to  secure  their  other  prisoner,  against  whom  they  bore 
the  greater  malice. 

Zuniga,  observing  this,  refused  to  accompany  his 
deliverers,  declaring  that  he  had  rather  share  his 
friend's  fate  than  abandon  him  in  this  manner.  But 
the  two  gentlemen  represented  to  him  that  it  were  a 
fruitless  attempt  to  endeavour  to  release  that  cavalier, 
who  was  now  actually  shut  up  in  the  bailiff's  house, 
who  kept  all  the  inhabitants  still  up  in  arms,  exciting 
them  to  avenge  his  son's  death ;  that  it  were  wiser, 
in  their  opinion,  to  assemble  all  the  friends  that  they 
could  get  together,  and  return  in  the  night  to  release 
him  from  prison.  Don  Alonso  yielded  to  this  advice, 
and  was  soon  assured  of  the  assistance  of  above  forty 
persons,  masters  as  well  as  servants,  and  this  bold 
design  would  undoubtedly  have  been  executed,  had 
not  the  bailiff  suspected  something  of  the  kind ;  but 
this  magistrate,  who  was  an  experienced,  cunning  old 
rascal,  expected  some  such  violence,  and  therefore 
applied  to  the  chief  justice  of  Seville,  who  sent  him 
so  numerous  a  company  of  guards,  that  he  no  longer 
feared  any  attempt  to  release  his  prisoner. 

The  ladies  were  not  at  so  great  a  distance  from  this 
scene  of  confusion  as  to  be  long  ignorant  of  the  par- 
ticulars of  the  battle,  and  the  sad  result  of  it.  They 
obtained  their  information  from  some  of  the  mar- 
quis's servants,  many  of  whom  had  been  to  the  town 
out  of  curiosity,  where  they  learnt  all  that  had  passed. 
Donna  Elvira  despatched  one  of  them  to  the  bailiff, 
desiring  him  to  take  care  how  he  treated  the  cavalier 
whom  he  had  in  custody,  lest  he  should  repent  of  it. 


THE  LIFE  OP  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.     243 

This  recommendation  was  not  entirely  thrown  away, 
for  Don  Jayme  was  treated  better  than  he  would 
otherwise  have  been,  and  furnished  with  everything 
that  was  necessary  to  cure  two  or  three  slight  wounds 
which  he  had  received. 

If  the  bailiff  was  mortified  at  seeing  his  intentions 
to  avenge  his  son's  death  likely  to  be  frustrated  by 
Elvira,  how  was  he  rejoiced  when  the  very  same 
evening  he  had  the  consolation  to  learn  that  the 
marquis  participated  in  his  resentment.  Don  Lewis, 
in  his  way  home  from  his  farm,  passed  through  the 
town  towards  the  evening,  and  observing  that  a 
majority  of  the  inhabitants  were  in  arms,  he  inquired 
for  what  purpose  they  were  thus  assembled.  The 
late  adventure  was  consequently  related  to  him,  and 
as  he  wished  to  know  the  full  particulars,  the  most 
considerable  person  amone;  the  mob  addressed  himself 
to  him  :  "  All  this  misfortune,"  said  he,  "  has  arisen 
merely  from  a  mistake  of  our  bailiff's  son,  who  was 
in  love  with  a  young  girl  belonging  to  your  family, 
and  had  a  rival  who  was  the  son  of  a  rich  farmer  in 
the  environs.  The  bailiffs  son  was  naturally  of  a 
debauched  character,  and  of  a  very  violent  disposition, 
and  finding  that  his  rival,  who  was  of  a  more  sober 
character,  and  richer  than  himself^  was  always  more 
welcome,  he  sent  him  word  that  he  would  have  him 
well  cudgelled  if  he  were  ever  again  found  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  your  house  with  the  view  of  speak- 
ing with  his  mistress.  He  caused  him  to  be  observed, 
and  having  been  informed  this  morning  that  two  men 
who  had  not  the  appearance  of  common  peasants, 


244  MATEO  ALEMAtt. 

though  dressed  as  such,  had  slipped  into  the  wood  as 
if  by  stealth,  he  doubted  not  that  it  was  the  farmer's 
son,  with  a  young  fellow  of  his  acquaintance  who 
generally  accompanied  him  in  these  visits,  and  that 
they  were  thus  disguised  to  avoid  the  drubbing  they 
had  been  threatened  with ;  with  this  impression,  he 
employed  two  of  the  strongest  fellows  in  the  town  to 
conceal  themselves  in  the  wood  to  put  his  threat  in 
execution ;  and  he  himself  followed  with  two  of  his 
friends,  in  order  to  assist  them  if  necessary." 

The  marquis  saw  plainly  by  this  recital  that  the 
bailiff's  son  only  was  to  blame,  and  that  those  whom 
they  called  his  murderers  had  killed  him  in  their  own 
defence ;  but  when  he  was  informed  that  these  two 
cavaliers  were  no  other  than  Don  Alonso  do  Zuniera 
and  the  pretended  Ambrosio,  and  that  the  bailiff  held 
the  latter  in  his  custody,  he  began  to  consider  that 
this  adventure  was  ordained  by  heaven  to  afford  him 
an  opportunity  of  being  avenged  on  his  daughter's 
seducer.  He  called  the  bailiff  before  him,  and  excited 
him  to  pursue  this  affair  with  warmth,  assuring  him 
of  the  protection  of  his  influence  and  purse,  and 
advising  him  to  repair  to  Seville  the  next  morning, 
accompanied  by  all  the  relatives  of  the  deceased,  as 
well  as  those  of  the  wounded,  and  there  throw  them- 
selves at  the  feet  of  the  magistrates,  crying  aloud  for 
justice.  The  bailiff  resolved  to  follow  this  advice,  and 
accordingly  conducted  his  prisoner  to  that  city  the 
following  day,  escorted  by  the  guards  and  some  of  the 
most  resolute  peasants  belonging  to  the  town.  When 
the  people  of  Seville  saw  him  thus  brought  up,  and 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      245 

knew  the  cause,  they  were  so  enraged  that  it  was 
with  great  difficulty  that  the  unfortunate  Moor  was 
preserved  from  their  fury.  In  addition  to  this,  Don 
Lewis  arrived  the  same  day  in  the  city,  thinking  his 
presence  necessary  to  engage  the  judges  to  condemn 
a  man  whose  destruction  he  had  sworn. 

On  the  other  hand,  Don  Alonso  was  unfortunately 
so  ill  of  his  wounds  that  he  could  scarcely  sit  on 
horseback,  nor,  indeed,  had  he  yet  been  able  to 
assemble  a  sufficient  number  of  his  friends  to  under- 
take to  deliver  Ozmin  by  force.  Thus,  reduced  to 
solicit  on  his  behalf,  he  implored  each  of  the  judges 
separately  to  consider  that  they  could  not  injustice 
condemn  a  man  to  death,  whose  only  crime  was  that 
of  having  defended  himself  against  assassins.  In 
answer  to  this,  he  was  told  that  he  ought  to  be  well 
contented  that  he  himself  vvas  not  secured  and  prose- 
cuted ;  that  the  blood  which  had  been  spilt  demanded 
justice,  and  that  if  he  were  in  the  prisoner's  place, 
they  could  not  possibly  be  able  to  save  him.  The 
death  of  Ozmin  appeared  inevitable,  and  near  at 
hand ;  but  in  spite  of  all  the  endeavours  of  Don 
Lewis  to  hasten  it,  it  was  deferred  by  an  incident 
which  that  nobleman  little  expected.  He  received  a 
courier  express  from  the  queen,  who  informed  him  of 
the  capture  of  the  city  of  Granada,  and  ordered  him  to 
repair  to  her  instantly  with  Daraxa,  whose  father  was 
most  anxious  to  see  her.  who,  having  himself  deter- 
mined to  become  a  Christian,  hoped  that  his  daughter 
would  not  refuse  to  follow  so  good  an  example. 

There  was  also  a  packet  of  letters  for  Daraxa,  but 


246  MATEO  ALE  MAN. 

the  marquis  judged  it  most  proper  to  withhold  them 
from  her;  and  did  not  even  communicate  the  news 
contained  in  his  own,  lest  in  her  impatience  of  return- 
ing to  her  parents  she  should  oblige  him  to  set  off 
with  her  the  very  next  day  for  Granada.  He  wished 
to  see  the  prosecution  of  Don  Jayme  closed  by  a 
sentence  of  death,  and  even  to  be  present  at  his 
execution  before  his  departure.  For  this  purpose  he 
redoubled  his  efforts  and  solicitations,  in  which  he 
succeeded  so  effectually  with  the  judges  that  they 
condemned  Ozmin  to  be  beheaded  two  days  after- 
wards, under  the  name  of  Don  Jayme',  gentleman  of 
Arragon. 

Zuniga  was  among  the  first  that  were  informed  of 
this  severe  sentence,  of  which  he  apprised  the  ladies 
by  letter,  assuring  them  at  the  same  time  that  he  had 
assembled  above  three  hundred  men,  and  that  he  and 
his  friends  would  all  perish  rather  than  suffer  such  an 
injustice.  What  words  can  express  the  affliction  of 
the  beautiful  Moor?  The  idea  of  the  ignominious 
treatment  that  was  preparing  for  her  dear  Ozmin 
almost  drove  her  mad.  In  the  midst  of  her  despair 
she  met  Don  Lewis,  at  his  return  from  the  palace, 
where  he  had  spent  the  whole  of  the  morning.  She 
cast  upon  him  a  furious  and  piercing  look,  and  said, 
with  such  transport  as  sufficiently  evinced  the  dis- 
order of  her  mind:  "  Barbarian  !  are  you  now  satisfied  ? 
Unjust  and  cowardly  judges  have  consented  without 
shame  to  gratify  your  resentment  at  the  expense  of 
innocence.  But  think  not  that  the  blood  of  this 
cavalier,  who  is  thus  injured  and  oppressed  by  your 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      247 

influence  and  suggestions,  shall  be  shed  with  im- 
punity. He  is  my  lover  and  my  husband,  a  relation 
of  the  King  of  Granada,  and  not  the  gallant  of  your 
daughter,  for  whom  such  a  man  was  never  destined. 
Your  head  shall  answer  to  me  for  his;  for  there  are 
those  among  his  relations,  or  my  own,  who  will  have 
vengeance ;  or  if  you  escape  their  resentment  I  my- 
self will  strike  the  poniard  to  your  heart." 

Don  Lewis  was  thunderstruck  at  these  impassioned 
exclamations,  which  showed  but  too  clearly  Daraxa's 
interest  in  the  life  of  the  prisoner.  He  knew  not 
what  to  reply,  so  overwhelmed  was  he  with  trouble 
and  confusion.  He  at  length,  however,  told  her  that 
she  was  much  to  blame  for  not  having  sooner 
informed  him  of  the  quality  of  the  pretended  Am- 
brosio,  against  whom  he  did  not  deny  that  he  had 
solicited,  conceiving  that  he  had  disgraced  his  house. 
Daraxa  was  proceeding  to  assure  him  that  it  was 
not  the  fault  of  Ozmin  if  Elvira  had  conceived  a 
foolish  love  for  him,  but  at  that  moment  a  servant 
entered  the  room  and  whispered  to  the  marquis  that 
there  were  several  equipages  at  the  gate  and  a  great 
number  of  Moors,  who  asked  to  speak  with  Daraxa. 
Don  Lewis  was  somewhat  troubled  at  this  news,  and 
apologised  for  being  obliged  to  leave  her  for  an  instant. 
As  Daraxa  had  not  heard  what  the  servant  had 
whispered,  and  wished  to  know  everything  that 
happened  in  her  present  anxious  state,  she  followed 
the  marquis  and  entered  a  parlour,  where,  from  the 
window,  she  perceived  some  Moors  whom  she  knew 
at  the  gate,  for  the  most  part  servants  of  her  father. 


248  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

This  sight  beguiled  her  of  her  troubles  for  awhile, 
and  joy  took  possession  of  her  heart,  when  Don 
Lewis  entered  the  room  conducting  one  of  her 
father's  officers  into  her  presence,  who,  having  paid 
his  respects  to  her,  announced  the  capture  of  the  city 
of  Granada,  and  that  the  war  was  at  an  end.  He 
informed  her  at  the  same  time  that  her  father  having 
obtained  permission  of  their  Catholic  Majesties  to 
recall  her  home,  had  sent  her  an  equipage  and  fol- 
lowers suitable  to  a  person  of  her  high  birth ;  that 
she  must  doubtless  be  already  informed  of  all  these 
particulars  by  the  courier  the  queen  had  despatched 
to  the  Marquis  de  Padilla,  and  by  the  letters  she 
must  have  received.  This  was  a  fresh  cause  of  con- 
fusion to  the  marquis,  who  was  obliged  to  frame  all 
sorts  of  excuses  to  Daraxa  for  not  having  before  put 
her  in  possession  of  them. 

The  joy  of  the  beautiful  Moor  lasted  no  longer 
than  the  time  that  was  occupied  in  communicating 
to  her  the  wishes  of  her  father.  The  thoughts 
respecting  Ozmin  and  the  extreme  danger  he  was  in, 
soon  renewed  her  grief.  This  afflicted  lover  de- 
spatched the  officer,  and  Orviedo,  by  whom  he  was 
accompanied,  to  demand  a  public  audience  for  her  of 
the  judges,  who  were  at  that  moment  deliberating 
upon  advices  they  had  just  received  that  Don  Alonso's 
house  was  filled  with  cavaliers  who  were  arrived  from 
the  country  to  second  him  in  his  design  to  rescue  his 
friend.  To  prevent  this  enterprise,  the  judges  had 
just  resolved  to  have  the  culprit  put  to  death  that 
night  in  prison, 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      249 

They  were  much  surprised  at  Daraxa's  request, 
never  having  known  an  instance  of  a  woman  coming 
in  ceremony  before  them  to  address  the  judges,  and 
they  knew  not  what  answer  to  return.  The  oldest 
among  them  were  of  opinion  that  she  ought  not  to 
be  allowed  an  audience,  but  the  younger  ones  were 
of  a  different  way  of  thinking.  The  curiosity  to 
know  what .  she  could  have  to  say  to  them — the 
rtspect  they  were  bound  to  entertain  for  a  lady  who 
was  so  great  a  favourite  with  the  queen,  and,  above 
all,  the  pleasure  of  seeing  her,  at  last  prevailed ;  and 
they  decided  that  an  audience  should  be  granted  to 
her  at  six  in  the  evening.  Daraxa,  who  was  appre- 
hensive that  this  would  have  been  refused  her,  was 
well  pleased  at  this  message.  She  sent  Orviedo  to 
Don  Alonso,  apprising  him  of  her  intentions,  and 
requesting  him  to  accompany  her  to  the  palace,  if 
his  health  would  allow  him  to  do  her  this  favour. 
Zuniga  was  extremely  charmed  with  the  honour 
conferred  upon  him  by  the  beautiful  Moor  in  select- 
ing him  as  her  squire  upon  this  occasion,  and  pre- 
pared for  the  cavalcade.  He  had  no  need  to  seek 
very  far  for  the  cavaliers  he  wished  to  join  him  in  it ; 
since  they  were  for  the  most  part  already  in  his  own 
house,  ready  to  follow  him  wherever  he  chose  to  lead 
them.  He  conducted  them  at  five  o'clock  to  Don 
Lewis's  house,  who,  seeing  more  than  two  hundred 
cavaliers  who  came  for  Daraxa,  whose  intentions  he 
was  not  unacquainted  with,  went  in  search  of  her, 
and  offered  himself  to  bear  her  company ;  but  she 
returned  him  thanks,  telling  him  that  she  was  very 


250 


MATEO  ALEMAN. 


glad  she  was  able  to  spare  him  the  mortification  of 
seeing  her  solicit  for  the  life  of  a  man  whose  enemy 
he  had  so  openly  professed  himself,  and,  in  fact, 
against  whose  life  he  was  the  principal  prosecutor. 

The  marquis,  stung  to  the  quick  by  this  refusal, 
would  willingly  have  frustrated  the  lady's  design,  or 
at  least  have  rendered  it  useless,  if  it  had  been  in  his 
power;  but  it  was  now  too  late  to  frame  any 
obstacle.  He  was,  therefore,  obliged  to  conceal  his 
mortification,  which  was,  however,  visibly  depicted 
on  his  face,  in  spite  of  all  his  efforts  to  smother  it. 
Daraxa  at  length  left  the  house  without  taking  any 
notice  of  his  displeasure.  She  found  Don  Alonso 
waiting  for  her  on  foot  at  the  gate,  with  all  the 
principal  persons  of  the  troop,  who  had  also  alighted 
to  compliment  her.  She  made  an  effort  to  express 
some  joy,  notwithstanding  the  profound  sorrow  that 
she  felt  on  the  occasion,  and  assured  Don  Alonso  she 
should  ever  entertain  the  most  lively  sense  of  her 
obligation  to  him.  Zuniga  forgot  nothing  that  a 
man  in  love  and  full  of  noble  thoughts  could  say  on 
such  an  occasion,  and  answered  that  "  he  could  not 
express  how  sensible  he  was  of  her  kindness,  in 
having  selected  himself  and  his  friends  to  conduct  her 
to  the  palace,  where  she  could  not  fail  to  immortalise 
herself  by  so  heroic  an  action."  Don  Alonso,  as 
well  as  the  other  gentlemen,  could  not  sufficiently 
applaud  so  generous  an  undertaking,  most  firmly 
believing  that  the  beautiful  Moor  interested  herself 
for  the  prisoner  merely  out  of  friendship  for  her 
friend,  Donna  Elvira. 


ThE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  VALFARACHE.     251 

After  these  compliments,  Daraxa  mounted  her 
horse  with  her  usual  grace.  Don  Alonso  and  the 
rest  followed  her  example,  and  the  cavalcade  began 
to  defile  by  the  Moors,  who  were  about  forty  in 
number,  all  well  equipped,  and  admirably  mounted, 
having  Orviedo  and  the  newly-arrived  officer  at  their 
head.  After  these  came  Daraxa  herself,  between  Don 
Alonso  and  Don  Diego  de  Castro ;  the  remainder  of 
the  company  followed  in  very  good  order,  six  in  each 
rank.  Though  the  preparations  for  this  cavalcade 
had  occupied  but  little  time,  yet  the  rumour  of  its 
approach  had  already  spread  through  the  city,  and 
the  people,  who  were  as  curious  to  behold  the  beau- 
tiful Moor  as  to  know  what  could  be  her  business  at 
the  palace,  were  collected  in  crowds  in  the  streets 
through  which  she  must  of  necessity  pass.  She  was 
dressed  in  a  most  magnificent  Moorish  habit,  and 
had  neglected  nothing  that  could  add  to  her  beauty 
on  so  important  an  occasion.  All  the  spectators 
were  struck  with  her  becoming  appearance;  but 
what  astonished  them  more  than  anything  was  the 
graceful  ease  and  dexterity  with  which  she  managed 
her  horse;  an  art  in  which  Spanish  women  rarely 
excel. 

The  cavalcade  having  arrived  at  the  square  before 
the  palace,  Don  Alonso  formed  his  cavaliers  into  a 
squadron  round  about  her,  and  the  judges  sent  out 
two  ushers  of  the  Court,  who  conducted  her  to  the 
door  of  the  first  hall,  where  she  was  received  by  two 
of  the  judges,  who  did  her  all  the  honour  that  could 
have  been  conferred  on  a  princess,  and  led  her  to  the 


252  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

audience.  Don  Alonso  and  other  young  nobles,  who 
had  alighted  from  their  horses  at  the  same  time  as 
Daraxa,  followed  her,  and  entered  also  into  the  hall 
where  the  judges  were  assembled,  who  appeared  much 
surprised  and  uneasy  on  this  account.  Putting,  how- 
ever, a  good  face  on  the  matter,  they  attended  only 
to  the  Moorish  lady,  who  charmed  them  all  by  the 
elegant  and  majestic  air  with  which  she  presented 
herself  before  the  tribunal  of  justice.  She  took  her 
seat  in  an  arm-chair  with  a  cushion  and  foot-carpet, 
which  had  been  prepared  for  her,  and  after  having 
beheld  all  the  judges  for  some  moments  with  fixed 
attention,  she  raised  her  voice,  and  thus  addressed 
them  : — 

"  There  is  but  one  reason,  my  lords,  sufficiently 
imperative  to  justify  the  step  that  I  have  taken,  in 
thus  presenting  myself  before  you.  I  know  the  rules 
that  modesty  prescribes  for  persons  of  my  sex;  but 
there  are  occasions  when  these  rules  may  be  dispensed 
with.  On  such  an  occasion  am  I  come  hither  to 
implore  justice  against  yourselves.  A  sentence  is 
to  be  put  in  execution  to-morrow  that  you  have  pro- 
nounced upon  a  man  whose  only  crime  is  that  of 
having  defended  his  life  against  assassins.  This  is 
an  incontrovertible  fact,  of  which  I  was  myself  an 
eye-witness,  as  well  as  Donna  Elvira,  and  two  waiting- 
women  who  were  also  with  us  in  the  wood.  Shall 
two  peasants  be  allowed  to  come  up  behind  two 
cavaliers  and  beat  them  with  clubs  most  unmerci- 
fully, and  shall  not  these  cavaliers  be  justified  in 
defending  themselves  against  so  unwarranted  an 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  VALFARACHE.      253 

assault?  If  the  bailiff's  son  came  with  two  of  his 
friends,  all  three  armed  with  swords,  and  rushed  upon 
two  mei.  who  had  nothing  but  sticks  to  protect  them- 
selves with,  what  crime  have  these  latter  committed 
in  acting  on  the  defensive  against  such  dastardly 
villains  ?  Who  among  you,  gentlemen,  finding  him- 
self in  the  same  situation,  but  would  do  his  utmost 
to  kill  his  opponent,  if  no  other  means  remained  of 
saving  his  own  life?  But  why  should  I  enlarge  upon 
that  point  ?  you  need  not  be  told  that  it  is  the  law 
of  nature.  It  is  now  said  that  it  was  a  mistake  of 
the  bailiff's  son ;  but  what  of  that  ?  his  mistake  can- 
not justify  his  actions,  neither  can  it  criminate  the 
persons  whom  he  wished  to  assassinate. 

"  I  shall  not  trouble  you,  my  lords,  with  any 
further  remarks,  except  to  inform  you  what  has  in- 
duced me  to  interest  myself  so  strongly  for  your 
prisoner.  He  is  not  a  gentleman  of  Arragon,  nor 
is  he  Don  Jay  me  Vivez,  lut  the  brave  Ozmin,  whose 
name  is  well  known  among  your  troops  as  having 
distinguished  himself  in  many  glorious  actions.  He 
it  was,  who,  the  last  day  of  the  sports,  killed  the  two 
bulls,  and  saved  the  life  of  Don  Alonso  de  Zuniga. 
But  what  has  impelled  me  more  than  all  his  noble 
qualities  to  make  this  appeal  to  your  justice  is,  that 
he  is  my  husband,  if  I  may  be  permitted  to  give  that 
name  to  a  man  who,  with  the  mutual  consent  of  our 
parents,  has  plighted  his  faith  to  me,  and  received 
mine  in  return.  Reflect  on  what  I  have  laid  before 
you,  my  lords,  before  you  cause  a  sentence  to  be 
carried  into  execution  against  a  kinsman  of  King 


254  MATEO  ALE  MAN. 

Mahomet,  whom  you  ought  not  to  have  condemned 
on  such  slight  grounds." 

The  beautiful  Moor  had  no  sooner  finished  her 
speech  than  a  noise  arose  throughout  the  hall  that 
very  much  startled  and  frightened  the  judges;  every- 
body crying  out  that  the  prisoner  was  innocent  and 
ought  to  be  released.  The  chief  justice  commanded 
silence,  which  being  obtained,  he  replied  to  the  lady 
in  the  name  of  himself  and  brothers,  "  That  they 
might  possibly  have  been  misinformed  in  this  affair: 
that  they  would  review  the  whole  matter,  and  give 
her  their  answer  that  very  same  day."  But  the  whole 
assembly  cried  out  again  that  the  prisoner  ought  in- 
stantly to  be  set  at  liberty,  threatening-  to  force  the 
prison  doors  if  this  were  refused.  The  same  judge 
answered,  "That  after  a  judgment  was  once  pro- 
nounced it  was  no  longer  in  their  power  to  liberate 
the  prisoner ;  that  all  they  could  do  on  their  parts  was 
to  suspend  the  execution  of  the  sentence  until  they 
received  orders  from  their  majesties,  who  alone  were 
now  able  to  annul  it."  Daraxa  then  requested  per- 
mission to  visit  Ozmin,  and  it  was  granted  her  with- 
out hesitation,  on  condition  that  no  more  than  four 
persons  should  enter  the  prison  with  her,  and  that 
she  would  engage  that  no  violence  should  ensue. 

The  cavalcade  proceeded  to  the  prison  in  the  same 
order  as  it  had  arrived  at  the  palace,  and  the  beau- 
tiful Moor  chose  Don  Alonso,  Don  Diego  de  Castro, 
Orviedo,  and  the  Moorish  officer,  to  go  in  with  her. 
Conceive,  if  possible,  the  agreeable  surprise  of  Ozmin 
when  he  saw  Daraxa  enter  his  chamber  with  Don 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  &ALFARACHE.      255 

Alonso,  and  learned  what  she  had  just  achieved  for 
him.  His  joy  could  only  be  equalled  by  that  of  his 
mistress,  whose  heart  overflowed  with  rapturous 
emotion  which  she  could  not  otherwise  express  than 
by  the  tears  that  flowed  in  torrents  from  her  eyes. 
Zuniga  partook  of  the  pleasure  of  the  lovers,  and 
embraced  his  friend  as  sincerely  as  though  he  had 
not  been  his  rival.  His  friendship  mingled  with  his 
love.  He  could  not,  however,  refrain  from  reproach- 
ing him  for  his  want  of  confidence,  threatening,  with 
a  smile,  that  he  would  b~-  avenged  for  his  dissimula- 
tion by  continuing  in  love  with  the  beautiful  Moor 
for  the  remainder  of  his  life.  This  reproach  drew 
compliments  upon  him  from  both  of  them.  Daraxa 
declared  that  next  to  Ozmin  he  would  ever  possi'ss 
her  esteem ;  and  Ozmin  assured  him  that,  with  the 
exception  of  Daraxa,  there  was  no  one  whose  love  he 
should  so  highly  prize.  Zuniga  did  not  fail  to  make 
obliging  returns  to  these  kind  professions  of  friend- 
ship ;  after  which  he  introduced  his  friend  Don  Diego 
to  Ozmin,  as  a  cavalier  of  distinguished  birth  and 
merit.  This  gave  rise  to  further  compliments,  till 
at  length  they  began  to  think  of  the  more  important 
consideration  that  brought  them  hither,  and  resolved 
to  send  off  a  messenger  instantly  to  their  majesties  to 
obtain  the  prisoner's  pardon.  Orviedo  was  fixed  on, 
and  immediately  set  off"  for  Granada,  with  letters  both 
to  Ozmin's  and  Daraxa's  relations. 

Orviedo  made  such  despatch,  that  after  three  days 
he  returned  to  Seville  with  his  master's  pardon,  and 
an  order  to  the  magistrates  to  treat  him  with  all  the 


256  MATEO  ALE  MAN. 

honours  due  to  his  noble  birth,  and  becoming  the 
future  husband  of  the  beautiful  Moor.  As  soon  as 
Daraxa  was  informed  that  Ozmin  was  at  liberty  to 
leave  the  prison,  she  repaired  thither  with  a  more 
numerous  and  more  magnificent  equipage  than 
before.  Every  cavalier  of  any  distinction  in  the  city 
was  amonir  the  cavalcade.  Don  Hodrigo  de  Padilla 
made  himself  particularly  remarkable  for  his  mag- 
nificence. He  insisted  on  making  one  amongst 
them,  and  expressed  to  Daraxa  his  sincere  joy  at  the 
good  success  of  her  undertaking,  in  spite  of  all  the 
old  marquis's  ra^e  and  vexation,  whose  conduct  he 
by  no  means  approved  of;  and  when  he  saw  Ozmin, 
he  behaved  towards  him  in  a  most  handsome  manner. 
Thus  our  hero  left  prison  with  as  much  honour 
and  joy  as  he  was  thrust  into  it  with  shame  and 
sorrow.  The  same  people  who  had  but  a  few  days 
before  desired  his  death,  now  followed  the  cavalcade 
with  acclamations  of  delight,  so  extremely  anxious 
were  they  to  see  the  famous  conqueror  of  the  bulls. 
Don  Lewis,  whose  resentment  and  haughtiness  were 
by  no  means  abated,  was  the  only  person  who  did  not 
visit  Ozmin,  whom  he  could  not  regard  in  any  other 
light  than  a  man  who  had  brought  dishonour  upon 
his  family,  by  the  great  talk  and  noise  that  his 
daughter's  love  for  Don  Jayme  had  made  in  the  city. 
He  fully  expected  that  he  should  be  rallied  at  Court 
on  this  account.  For  this  reason  he  pretended  illness, 
as  an  excuse  for  not  being  able  to  accompany  Daraxa 
to  Granada,  and  appeared  no  more  in  Seville  until 
after  her  departure. 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.     257 

As  for  Elvira,  besides  that  she  had 'all  the  ill- 
humour  of  her  father  to  contend  with,  she  could  not 
console  herself  under  the  reflection  that  she  had  been 
deceived  by  the  two  persons  whom  she  most  loved, 
though  in  truth,  she  had  more  cause  to  blame  her 
own  conduct  than  theirs.  She  did  not  long  survive 
her  mortification  and  disappointment.  The  ill-hum- 
ours and  vexations  of  Don  Lewis  and  his  daughter 
did  not  prevent  the  making  extraordinary  rejoicings 
at  Don  Alonso's,  where  Ozmin  and  Daraxa  lodged 
until  the  next  day,  when  they  set  out  for  Granada, 
accompanied  by  Don  Alonso  and  Don  Diego  de 
Castro,  who  insisted  on  being  present  at  their 
nuptials,  which  were  celebrated  with  the  greatest 
magnificence,  and  honoured  by  the  presence  of  their 
Catholic  majesties.  There  were  tournaments  and 
bull  feasts,  where  Moors  competed  with  the  Chris- 
tians in  courage  and  address.  In  addition  to  all 
this,  the  two  lovers,  to  render  themselves  more  worthy 
that  Heaven  should  shower  its  blessings  on  their 
nuptials,  embraced  the  Christian  religion,  and  became 
the  noble  origin  of  one  of  the  most  illustrious  houses 
in  Spain." 

The  friar  who  had  entertained  us  with  this  story 
finished  here.  After  which  his  friend  and  himself 
commenced  a  conversation  respecting  the  wars  of 
Granada.  During  all  this  time,  the  muleteer,  per- 
ceiving that  we  were  almost  at  the  gates  of  Cazalla, 
seemed  particularly  anxious  to  say  a  few  words  to 
me  in  private.  Since  our  last  adventure  he  had  not 
uttered  a  word,  but  as  we  were  now  about  to  part, 

VOL.  i.  R 


258  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

perhaps  never  to  meet  again,  he  at  length  broke 
silence  by  demanding  of  me  three  crowns  for  the 
charges  of  my  journey,  as  well  as  for  my  share  of 
what  we  had  expended  at  the  inn  where  we  had 
supped  so  well  the  preceding  evening,  and  breakfasted 
so  delicately  that  very  morning.  This  was  anything 
but  a  joke  to  me,  who  little  expected  such  a  demand, 
and  might  have  defied  him  or  any  other  person  to 
have  made  me  pay  it,  not  having  half  that  sum  in 
my  purse ;  and  we  soon  grew  so  warm  in  our  argu- 
ments against  each  other  on  this  subject,  that  I  had 
armed  myself  with  two  flints,  which  I  should  certainly 
have  levelled  at  his  head,  had  not  the  friars  taken 
compassion  on  me,  and  prevented  me  from  getting 
myself  well  thrashed.  These  gentlemen  set  them- 
selves up  for  umpires  in  the  case,  and  after  having 
heard  both  parties,  condemned  me  to  pay  the  mule- 
teer a  fourth  part  of  what  he  demanded.  I  was 
obliged  to  obey  this  decree,  which,  favourable  as  it 
was  towards  me,  reduced  my  finances  so  low  that  I 
had  scarcely  sufficient  remaining  in  my  purse  to 
defray  the  expenses  of  a  supper  and  night's  lodging 
at  another  inn,  whither  I  repaired  after  having  taken 
leave  of  the  two  friars,  and  the  unlucky  muleteer, 
who  had  no  great  reason  in  my  opinion  to  thank  his 
stars  that  he  ever  met  with  me. 


(    259   ) 


CHAPTER    X. 

GUZMAN  BECOMES  AN  INNKEEPERS   BOY. 

BEHOLD  me  now,  friendly  reader,  in  the  best  inn  at 
Cazalla,  twelve  leagues  from  Seville,  where  the 
money  I  had  left  was  sufficient  to  pay  for  a  good 
supper  and  a  good  bed  to  lie  down  on.  Instead, 
however,  of  enjoying  a  profound  sleep,  which  such 
excellent  fare  was  calculated  to  procure  me,  the  state 
of  my  affairs  presented  itself  to  my  imagination  in  a 
thousand  distressing  forms,  and  prevented  me  from 
sleeping  a  wink  the  whole  of  the  night.  "  Hitherto," 
said  I  to  myself,  "  [  have  always  had  plenty  to  eat 
and  drink.  But  this  will  now  soon  be  over.  When 
a  man  has  bread  to  eat  he  may  support  himself  under 
any  affliction.  'Tis  well  to  have  a  father;  'tis  well 
to  have  a  mother;  but  nothing  is  to  be  compared  to 
a  good  bellyful." 

Necessity  with  her  heretic  visage  now  stared  me 
full  in  the  face,  and  occasioned  the  most  terrible 
apprehensions  in  my  mind ;  and  I  would  gladly  have 
returned  to  Seville,  had  I  not  considered  that  money 
was  quite  as  necessary  to  repair  my  folly  as  to  pursue 
my  fortune.  I  could  compare  myself  to  nothing  but 
some  half-starved  cur,  who,  having  lost  his  way, 
finds  himself  surrounded  by  a  number  of  larger  dogs 


260  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

barking  and  growling  at  him  on  all  sides.  In  addi- 
tion to  this,  how  could  T  without  shame  return  to  my 
mother's  house  after  having  left  it  with  so  much 
resolution.  The  loss-  of  my  cloak  also  recurred  to 
my  remembrance,  which  I  imagined  would  be  a  fine 
subject  for  ridicule  on  my  return.  This  last  con- 
sideration was  sufficient  to  determine  me  not  to 
return  to  Seville ;  in  addition  to  which  I  was  not 
less  concerned  that  I  must  stop  when  I  was  in  so 
fair  a  way.  A  point  of  honour  then  seized  me,  and 
I  resolved  to  continue  my  journey,  abandoning  my- 
self to  Providence.  I  took  the  direct  road  to  Madrid, 
the  ordinary  residence  of  our  kings,  hoping  to  see 
something  of  the  Court,  which  I  had  been  told  was 
most  brilliant  from  the  great  number  of  noblemen 
that  composed  it,  and  above  all  from  the  presence  of 
a  young  king  newly  married.  All  this  excited  my 
curiosity,  and  I  encouraged  the  most  flattering 
ideas,  building  castles  in  the  air  without  number. 
I  fancied  that  a  lad  of  my  air  and  figure  would  soon 
be  noticed  in  such  a  country,  where  I  should  soon 
make  friends,  and  could  not  fail  of  making  my 
fortune.  Full  of  these  deceitful  visions  I  had  little 
inclination  to  sleep,  and  lay  expecting  the  day  with 
impatience.  But  no  sooner  had  it  arrived,  and  I 
had  set  out  for  Madrid,  than  all  these  chimeras 
vanished,  leaving  nothing  before  my  eyes  but  a  long 
and  tedious  journey. 

"Courage,  Signor  Guzman,"  said  I  to  myself; 
"  consider  that  you  cannot  now  retreat.  Keep  up 
your  spirits,  therefore,  my  friend,  and  do  your  best 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.     261 

whatever  may  happen.  Instead  of  having  a  cloak 
upon  your  shoulders,  which  would  only  incommode 
you  at  this  time  of  the  year,  be  content  that  you 
have  a  good  stick  which  will  assist  you  in  walking." 
I  passed  the  whole  day  without  eating,  and  at  night 
laid  myself  down  on  the  grass  at  the  foot  of  a  large 
tree,  where  I  fell  asleep  from  fatigue,  and  did  not 
wake  until  the  sun  had  risen  the  next  morning, 
when  I  began  to  feel  that  I  could  have  made  a  very 
hearty  breakfast  if  I  had  had  any  provisions;  but 
not  having  even  a  morsel  of  the  coarsest  bread,  I 
found  myself  obliged  to  set  forward  again  upon  an 
empty  stomach,  and  with  an  appetite  increasing 
every  moment.  Towards  night,  my  hunger  became 
such,  that  I  could  scarcely  walk  from  weakness.  In 
vain  did  my  stomach  plead  its  emptiness;  my  legs 
seemed  unwilling  to  support  my  weight  any  farther. 
Just  at  this  moment  two  gentlemen,  who  by  their 
looks  seemed  to  be  rich  merchants,  trotted  briskly 
past  me  upon  mules.  "  Thank  God  !  "  thought  I, 
"  here  are  two  gentlemen  who  will  in  all  probability 
defray  my  charges  to-day."  The  hope  of  obtaining 
a  good  meal  at  their  expense  inspired  me  with  fresh 
strength,  and  I  resolved  not  to  lose  sight  of  them. 
A  meal  was  now  of  the  most  serious  consideration 
for  me.  With  this  impression  I  followed  them  so 
closely  that  we  arrived  together  at  the  inn  where 
they  stopped.  I  looked  more  dead  than  alive  when 
I. came  up  with  them;  yet,  tired  as  I  was,  I  showed 
myself  disposed  to  make  myself  useful  by  holding 
the  bridles  of  their  mules  while  they  alighted,  and 


262  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

offering  my  services  to  carry  their  portmanteau  with 
a  bag  containing  their  provisions  into  their  apart- 
ments. But,  whether  my  officiousness  rendered  me 
suspected  by  them,  or  that  they  were  naturally  rough 
and  distrustful,  no  sooner  had  I  laid  my  hands  on 
the  bag  than  one  of  them  called  out  to  me  in  a  voice 
which  made  me  tremble  from  head  to  foot,  "  Out  of 
the  way,  boy!  stand  off!"  I  obeved  without  mak- 
ing any  answer  to  this  disagreeable  reception,  and 
formed  but  a  bad  presage  in  favour  of  the  gratifica- 
tion of  my  appetite;  but  determined  not  to  be  so 
easily  got  rid  of.  I  therefore  walked  behind  them  to 
their  room  in  a  very  humble  manner,  with  my  hat 
in  my  hand.  They  had  brought  good  provisions 
with  them,  as  is  customary  in  Spain.  I  saw  a  roast 
shoulder  of  mutton  drawn  from  their  bags,  with  part 
of  a  ham,  some  bread  and  wine.  This  only  increased 
my  extreme  desire  to  serve  them.  To  obtain  their 
favour,  therefore,  I  advanced  towards  the  table  and 
took  up  a  glass,  intending  to  rinse  it  for  their  use, 
but  the  other  merchant,  who  had  not  yet  spoken, 
snatched  it  from  me,  saying  in  a  rougher  manner 
than  his  friend,  "  No,  no,  leave  that  glass  alone. 
We  have  no  occasion  for  your  services." 

"O  traitors!"  thought  I,  "enemies  to  God  and 
man !  hearts  of  flint !  I  find  that  T  have  exhausted 
my  breath  and  strength»to  little  purpose  in  following 
you  hither."  I  resolved,  however,  not  to  leave  them, 
in  the  hope  that  they  might  feel  more  charitably  dis- 
posed when  their  bellies  were  full,  and  throw  me  a 
bone  to  pick,  or  even  a  bit  of  bread,  out  of  com  pas- 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.    26$ 

sion.  T  was  again  mistaken;  they  continued  eating 
without  deigning  to  cast  a  look  towards  me.  I  de- 
voured their  provisions  with  my  eyes  all  this  time; 
but  this  would  not  satisfy  my  craving  appetite.  To 
complete  my  mortification,  I  saw  these  monsters  put 
up  the  remains  of  their  dinner  in  their  wallet,  even 
to  the  smallest  bit  of  bread,  with  which  they  left  the 
inn.  What  barbarity!  whatasi<rht  for  a  lad  starving 
with  hunger !  I  was  ready  to  run  distracted  with 
grief  and  inanition  when  a  friar  of  the  order  of  St. 
Francis  entered  the  room  in  which  f  stood. 

I  conceived  but  little  hope  of  relief  from  this 
quarter.  What  assistance  could  I  expect  from  a 
poor  monk  who  travelled  on  foot,  from  a  begging 
friar,  who  seemed  himself  to  stand  in  need  of  assist- 
ance? He  perspired  freely,  and  appeared  much 
fatigued.  He  brought  a  wallet  with  him,  which  he 
placed  on  the  table,  and  upon  which  I  fixed  the  most 
attentive  and  eager  looks.  T  could  have  stolen  it 
even  from  the  altar;  it  made  my  mouth  water  before 
I  knew  its  contents.  When  his  reverence  took  out 
his  provisions,  which  consisted  of  a  large  loaf  of  white 
bread,  and  a  piece  of  salt  beef,  which  I  should  have 
longed  for  even  at  my  mother's  table,  I  fixed  my  eyes 
upon  them,  and  stood  in  an  ecstacy  with  my  mouth 
wide  open.  How  did  I  wish  that  I  had  been  his  little 
brother !  I  fancied  that  I  felt  in  my  own  throat  every 
morsel  that  he  swallowed. 

He  happened  to  look  at  me  by  chance  in  the  course 
of  his  meal,  and  perceiving  what  I  wanted,  for  my 
looks  spoke,  "  Good  God  !  "  cried  he,  animated  by  a 


264  MATED  ALE  MAN. 

holy  zeal,  "approach,  my  child  ;  T  will  not  allow  thee 
to  languish  from  want ;  though  I  had  but  this  hit  of 
bread,  it  should  be  thine.  Here,  my  son,"  added  he, 
giving  me  half  his  bread  and  meat,  "  take  a  little 
nourishment.  I  were  unworthy  to  exist  did  I  not 
share  with  thee." 

0  Providence !  who  makest  many  of  Thy  creatures 
to  subsist  even  in  stone,  Thy  Divine  goodness  never 
forsakes  us!     I  implored  blessings  on  the  head  of  the 
reverend  father  for  this  act  of  charity  towards  me, 
and  began  to  show  him  that  he  was  not  deceived  in 
my  half-starved  appearance;  and  being  now  pretty 
well  replenished,  I    returned  thanks  to   Heaven   for 
this    fortunate   rencounter.     How  pleased    should   I 
have  been  had  I  been  doomed  to  travel  any  distance 
with  this  friar!     My  fate  would  have  been  enviable; 
but,  as  chance  would  have  it,  he  was  going  to  Seville, 
so  that  we  parted  immediately  after  dinner.     Before 
we  separated,  he  put  his  hand  into  his  wallet  and  gave 
me  half  of  another  small  loaf,  saying,  that  I  should 
have  my  full  share  of  all  he  had.     I  put  up  this  last 
half-loaf  in  my  pocket,  and   after  having  eaten  the 
first  with  the  beef,  and  drank  some  good,  fresh  water, 
for  the  good  friar  had  nothing  better  to  offer  me,  I 
set  out  again  in  good  spirits  towards  Madrid. 

1  travelled  about  three  leagues  farther  during  the 
day,  and  in  the  evening  reached   Campanis,  a  large 
village  in  New  Castile,  where  I  entered  an  inn,  and 
supped  upon  the  half-loaf  I  brought  with  me,  having 
nothing  better  to  eat.     This  inn  was  where  the  mule- 
teers of  Tuxillo  lodged,  for  whom  all  the  beds  were 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.    265 

engaged,  and  who  came  in  towards  night.  The  land- 
lord allotted  me  a  lodging  in  the  hay-loft,  whither  1 
mounted  very  contentedly,  not  being  in  a  situation  to 
make  any  difficulties.  I  stretched  myself  on  the  straw, 
and  slept  soundly  until  daybreak,  when  I  rose  with  a 
light  stomach,  which,  as  you  will  recollect,  was  by 
no  means  overloaded  the  preceding  night,  and  had 
already  got  out  of  the  inn,  when  the  rascally  land- 
lord was  uncivil  enough  to  stop  me,  demanding  pay- 
ment for  my  night's  lodging,  for  which  he  charged 
four  maravedis.  As  I  had  not  even  one  in  the  world, 
I  struggled  to  escape  from  his  grasp,  but  he  held  me 
fast,  and  perceiving  that  my  coat  was  made  of  good 
cloth,  he  was  on  the  point  of  taking  it  off,  by  way 
of  settling  the  dispute,  had  not  a  muleteer  who  was 
standing  by  taken  pity  on  me. 

"  Leave  the  lad  alone,"  said  he  to  the  host,  "  I  will 
pay  for  him.  I  see  how  the  matter  stands;  this 
young  man  has  run  away  either  from  his  father's  or 
his  master's  house." 

At  these  words  the  landlord  looked  at  me,  and 
asked  me  if  I  was  disposed  to  serve  him,  having  occa- 
sion for  the  assistance  of  a  boy  like  me  in  his  inn. 

At  any  other  time  such  a  proposal  would  have 
appeared  ridiculous  to  me,  and  I  should  even  have 
been  offended  at  it;  but  misery  relieves  one  from 
such  scruples,  and  reconciles  the  greatest  hardships. 
After  having  considered  for  a  few  moments,  the 
prospect  of  starvation  made  me  accept  his  offer. 
"Enter  my  house,  then,"  said  he;  "there  are  but 
two  things  I  shall  require  of  you :  to  give  out  the 


266  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

oats  and  straw  to  the  passengers,  and  to  be  sure  tc 
render  me  a  good  and  faithful  account."  I  promised 
to  acquit  myself  in  this  noble  post  to  the  utmost  of 
my  abilities,  after  which  I  was  engaged  beyond  the 
power  of  retracting. 

However  hard  service  was  to  me,  who  had  hitherto 
been  accustomed  to  be  waited  upon  myself,  I  was  at 
first  tolerably  well  contented  with  my  situation. 
Very  few  gentlemen  passed  that  way  in  the  course 
of  the  day,  so  that,  generally,  I  had  nothing  to  do 
but  to  eat  and  drink  until  night,  when  the  muleteers 
arrived.  I  soon  learnt  all  the  manoeuvres  of  inns; 
how  to  swell  the  corn  to  three  times  its  quantity  with 
boiling  water,  and  how  to  measure  it  out  afterwards 
to  the  best  advantage.  There  was  no  occasion  to 
point  out  to  me  more  than  once  the  peculiar  con- 
struction of  the  mangers,  for  after  one  attempt  I 
well  knew  how  to  watch  my  opportunity  to  deprive 
the  passengers  of  at  least  a  third  part  of  the  corn  they 
paid  for,  and  even  the  muleteers  did  not  always 
escape;  but  when  by  chance  any  young  cavaliers, 
distinguished  by  their  insignia  and  the  nice  cut  of 
their  whiskers,  happened  to  stop  at  our  house  with- 
out servants,  we  were  particularly  assiduous  in  our 
attentions.  No  sooner  did  we  perceive  them  than 
we  ran  out  to  assist  them  to  alight.  These  young 
gentlemen,  for  the  most  part,  affecting  to  be  persons 
of  great  importance,  would  not  condescend  to  enter 
the  stable,  but  were  content  to  recommend  their 
horses  or  mules  to  our  care,  which  recommendation 
had  so  powerful  an  effect  that  we  never  failed  to  lead 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.     267 

the  poor  beasts  where  there  was  neither  hay  nor  a 
single  grain  of  com.  We  tied  them  to  the  rack  and 
left  them  to  their  meditations.  Occasionally,  how- 
ever, out  of  pity,  we  gave  them  a  handful  of  corn, 
just  by  way  of  a  lon-louclie,  before  their  departure, 
though  of  this  scanty  pittance  the  poultry  in  the  yard 
caught  up  half,  and  sometimes  even  the  jackass  got 
his  share  of  it. 

In  this  manner  were  all  those  cavaliers  served  who 
relied  upon  our  honesty ;  and  if  we  made  them  pay 
well  for  what  their  beasts  had  never  eaten,  judge  in 
what  manner  we  charged  them  for  their  own  expenses. 
I  was  overjoyed  when  it  fell  to  my  lot  to  reckon  with 
them.  "Your  bill  amounts  to  so  many  reals,"  said 
I,  "and  so  many  maravedis,"  adding  in  a  graceful 
manner :  "  Y  haga  les  luen  provecho  " — "  Much  good 
may  it  do  you  " — a  compliment  which  always  pro- 
cured me  something  for  myself.  You  will  very  easily 
believe  that  we  always  charged  this  sort  of  customers 
twice  as  much  as  they  owed,  in  spite  of  all  the  regu- 
lations of  the  police,  to  which  my  master  paid  little 
attention,  though  they  were  fixed  up  all  over  his 
house.  He  was  satisfied  with  having  them  in  his 
possession,  and  so  long  as  he  was  able  to  pay  the 
officers  their  dues,  he  cared  but  little  about  observing 
their  ordinances. 

The  more  experienced  travellers  always  paid  with- 
out hesitation  whatever  was  demanded,  knowing  that 
it  was  useless  to  contend;  but  others  who  thought 
themselves  more  cunning  would  frequently  have  the 
landlord  called  that  they  might  reckon  with  him.  On 


268  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

these  occasions,  our  master,  for  fear  of  doing  himself 
wrong,  always  increased  the  price  of  every  article; 
and  when  he  had  once  taxed  the  bill  at  a  certain 
amount  his  sentence  was  without  appeal,  and  they 
were  obliged  to  draw  their  purse-strings.  Woe  to 
that  traveller  who  presumes  to  complain  of  his  treat- 
ment, and  to  threaten  an  innkeeper  in  Spain  for 
having  cheated  him.  As  they  are  almost  all  of  them 
members  of  the  holy  brotherhood,  he  will  be  sure  to 
cause  him  to  be  arrested  at  the  first  village  through 
which  he  passes,  accusing  him  either  of  a  design  to 
burn  his  house  to  the  ground,  of  having  assaulted 
him,  or  of  having  violated  his  wife  or  his  daughter,  so 
that  the  poor  traveller  may  esteem  himself  more  than 
ordinarily  happy  if  he  got  off  by  paying  double  what 
was  before  demanded  of  him,  after  having  begged 
pardon  of  his  landlord  into  the  bargain. 

There  were  several  pretty  servant-maids  in  our  inn, 
but  it  was  dangerous  to  have  anything  to  say  to  them. 
It  was  well  for  those  who  had  their  wits  about  them 
when  they  left  the  house ;  for  whatever  happened  by 
chance  to  be  forgotten  and  left  behind  was  sure  never 
to  be  heard  of  again.  What  roguery  !  what  infamous 
tricks!  what  wickedness  is  constantly  going  on  at  these 
inns!  God  is  not  feared,  and  justice  is  compounded 
with.  One  would  think  that  when  a  man  becomes 
an  innkeeper  he  is  at  liberty  to  do  what  he  pleases, 
and  has  an  absolute  power  over  the  property  as  well 
as  the  persons  of  such  as  are  obliged  to  stop  at  his 
house. 


269 


CHAPTER   XI. 

GUZMAN  BECOMES  DISGUSTED  WITH  HIS  SITUATION^ 
LEAVES  THE  INN,  AND  REPAIRS  TO  MADRID, 
WHERE  HE  ASSOCIATES  WITH  SOME  BEGGARS. 

BESIDES  that  I  was  of  too  flighty  a  disposition  to  be 
long  contented  in  the  same  way  of  life,  I  could  not  con- 
sider the  one  that  I  now  led  by  any  means  suitable  to 
a  spirited  lad  who  had  left  his  mother's  house  for  the 
sole  purpose  of  seeing  the  world.  In  addition  to  this, 
the  servant  of  an  innkeeper  ranked  lower  in  my 
opinion  than  that  of  a  blind  beggar.  I  saw  every 
day  boys  of  about  my  own  age  and  size  pass  our  door, 
who,  a/ter  having  asked  alms,  went  gaily  along  the 
road  a^ain.  This  sight  roused  my  feelings.  "  What," 
said  I  to  myself,  "  does  the  dread  of  hunger  hold  me 
here,  while  these  young  fellows,  who  have  no  more 
resolution  than  I  ought  to  be  master  of,  expose  them- 
selves courageously  to  hunger  and  thirst!  I  am  in  all 
probability  as*  well  deserving  as  they,  and  ought  not, 
therefore,  to  be  less  courageous."  These  reflections 
inspired  me  with  resolution,  and,  defying  fortune,  I 
again  set  out  for  Madrid,  after  having  demanded  my 
dismissal  of  my  master,  who  gave  me  three  reals  ior 
my  services  during  the  time  I  had  been  with  him. 

With  this  money,  and  the  little  I  had  saved  from 
the  liberality  of  our  customers,  I  was  able  to  advance 


270  MATEO  ALE  MAN. 

as  far  as  the  celebrated  bridge  of  Arcolis  upon  Zagus, 
whence  I  pursued  my  route  as  the  others  had  done, 
by  holding  out  my  hand  in  every  village  through 
which  I  passed,  and  to  every  gentleman  I  met;  but 
the  harvest  had  been  so  extremely  bad  that  year  that 
people  in  general  were  but  little  disposed  to  be  chari- 
table. I  was  therefore  soon  obliged  to  sell  my  clothes., 
so  that  I  cut  a  most  elegant  figure  when  I  reached 
that  celebrated  capital  of  Spain.  I  was  reduced  to  a 
tattered  pair  of  breeches,  with  a  shirt  black  and  torn, 
a  pair  of  stockings  with  a  thousand  holes  in  them, 
and  shoes  which  had  no  other  soles  than  those  of  my 
feet.  I  looked  more  like  a  fellow  just  escaped  from 
the  galleys,  than  a  gentleman's  son  of  good  family, 
and  could  not  possibly  hope  to  be  employed  in  any 
gentleman's  service,  which  was  now  the  height  of  my 
ambition.  My  miserable  appearance  was  not  calcu- 
lated to  prepossess  any  one  in  my  favour,  and  he  must 
have  been  a  bold  man  indeed  who  could  have  made 
up  his  mind  to  admit  me  into  his  house.  No  one 
could  look  at  me  attentively  without  saying  in  his 
own  mind,  There  is  a  young  chap  who  only  wants  the 
opportunity  to  perform  some  desperate  trick.  At 
length,  finding  that  my  appearance  was  such  that  no 
one  would  receive  me  either  as  page,  footman,  or  even 
as  a  turnspit,  I  turned  my  eyes  towards  a  company 
of  beggars  whom  I  perceived  at  a  church  door.  I 
considered  them  with  attention,  and  they  seemed  so 
healthy  and  void  of  care  that  I  thought  I  could  not 
do  better  than  enrol  myself  in  their  company.  I 
joined  them  accordingly,  and  was  received  by  them 


THE  LIFE  OF  GU2MAX  D'ALFARACHE.     271 

as  a  member  whose  mien  and  equipage  were  not  un- 
worthy of  their  fraternity. 

Before  I  reached  Madrid  I  had  taken  good  care  to 
leave  all  my  modesty  on  the  road,  as  a  load  too  heavy 
for  a  foot-passenger  to  carry  about  with  him.  If  I 
had  not  ere  this  got  rid  of  this  cruel  enemy  to  hunger, 
1  should  soon  have  lost  every  spark  of  it  in  the  com- 
pany of  these  good  folks,  who  were  severally  and  col- 
lectively the  most  complete  birds  of  prey.  I  followed 
them  everywhere,  acting  as  a  sort  of  assistant  to  them, 
until  I  should  become  sufficiently  experienced  to  con- 
tribute my  share  towards  making  the  pot  boil,  in 
which  there  never  failed  to  be  plenty.  Twice  a  day 
we  had  a  fine  dish  of  soup,  of  which  I  was  sure  to 
partake,  provided  I  attended  punctually  to  the  hours 
of  dinner  and  supper,  otherwise,  being  only  an  under- 
ling, I  should  have  found  nothing  but  the  empty 
tureen  for  my  share. 

After  supper  we  generally  sat  down  to  play;  I  soon 
learned  the  games  of  quince,  one  and  thirty,  quinola 
and  primera,  with  a  thousand  tricks  on  the  cards.  I 
had  so  happy  a  knack,  and  my  disposition  was  so  well 
suited  to  this  science,  that  I  made  visible  progress 
under  these  excellent  masters.  Little  as  I  was,  I  felt 
desirous  to  imitate  some  of  my  companions,  who,  lest 
they  should  be  punishecWs  vagrants,  posted  them- 
selves with  baskets  in  the  different  markets,  offering 
the  citizens  to  carry  home  for  them  the  provisions 
they  might  purchase.  This  employment  appeared 
rather  laborious  to  me  at  first,  but  I  soon  got  so  well 
accustomed  to  it  that  I  thought  no  man's  lot  prefer- 


272  MATEO  ALEMAtf. 

able  to  my  owr..  "  How  charming,"  thought  I,  "to 
live  thus  in  plenty,  without  being  obliged  to  use 
either  needle  or  thread,  the  hammer  or  the  thimble; 
nothing  but  a  basket  and  a  little  industry  being  neces- 
sary for  subsistence !  The  life  of  a  beggar  is  a  delicacy 
without  bone,  an  uninterrupted  stream  of  pleasure, 
an  employment  exempt  from  trouble  and  vexation. 
How  void  of  sense  must  my  ancestors  have  been  to 
have  taken  so  much  pains  to  live  in  wretchedness! 
In  how  many  perplexities  have  they  been  involved 
for  the  sake  of  supporting  their  commerce  and  repu- 
tation !  O  absurd  honour  of  this  world,  thou  art 
but  a  millstone  to  sink  such  fools  as  consent  to  be 
burdened  with  thee ! " 

One  day  as  I  was  carrying  home  a  quarter  of 
mutton  in  my  basket  for  an  honest  shoemaker  who 
walked  before  me,  I  picked  up  a  paper  which  I  per- 
ceived lying  in  the  street,  containing  some  verses  of 
an  old  ballad,  which  I  began  to  read  and  sing  to 
myself.  The  shoemaker,  surprised  to  hear  me,  said 
with  a  smile  :  "  What,  you  ill-looking  little  dog,  can 
you  read  ?  " 

"  And  write  too,"  answered  I. 

"  Is  it  possible  ?  "  cried  he,  much  astonished.  "  If 
you  will  teach  me  merelv  to  sign  my  name,  I  will 
pay  you  well  for  your  trouble." 

I  asked  of  what  possible  use  the  knowing  how  to 
sign  his  name  only  could  be  to  him,  and  he  told  me 
that  having  obtained  a  good  situation  through  the 
influence  of  a  certain  person,  whom  he  named,  whose 
family  he  had  supplied  with  shoes  gratis,  he  should 


THE  LIFE  OF  9UZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.     27 j 

be  glad  to  be  able  to  sign  his  name  when  necessary, 
that  he  might  not  be  obliged  to  confess  that  he  could 
not  write. 

As  soon  as  we  entered  his  house  he  caused  pen, 
ink,  and  paper  to  be  brought,  and  I  commenced  my 
occupation  of  writing-master,  showing  my  scholar 
how  to  hold  his  pen,  and  guiding  his  hand.  I  then 
made  him  form  the  letters  that  composed  his  name 
go  many  times  over,  that  he  fancied  he  had  already 
acquired  the  elements  of  the  art  of  writing.  After 
having  scribbled  over  and  blotted  five  or  six  sheets  of 
paper,  he  was  so  well  satisfied,  that  he  made  me  try 
on  a  pair  of  new  shoes,  which  fitted  as  if  they  had 
been  made  for  me,  and  which  he  presented  me  with. 
I  then  took  leave  of  him,  assuring  him  that  whenever 
I  wanted  a  new  pair  of  shoes,  I  would  call  and  give 
some  further  lessons  to  make  him  quite  perfect  in 
his  writing. 


CHAPTER   XII. 

GUZMAN  IS   ENGAGED   BY  A    COOK. 

I  WAS  well  content  in  this  new  way  of  life,  in  which 
I  enjoyed  that  liberty  so  eagerly  desired  by  all  the 
world,  so  boasted  of  by  philosophers,  and  so  often 
sung  of  by  poets ;  I  possessed  that  precious  treasure 
which  is  preferable  to  gold  or  silver;  but  unfortu- 
nately I  did  not  long  retain  it,  for  a  cursed  cook  soon 
deprived  me  of  it.  This  cook  was  one  of  my  most 


274  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

constant  employers :  "My  friend,"  said  he  one  day, 
"  I  am  well  pleased  with  you,  and  am  willing  to  put 
you  in  the  way  of  making  your  fortune ;  quit  your  idle 
companions,  and  come  and  fill  the  place  of  scullion 
at  my  master's,  which  is  now  vacant;  I  will  myself 
teach  you  the  duties  of  the  kitchen  out  of  friendship, 
and  qualify  you  to  become  cook  to  the  king  himself. 
Happen  what  may,  the  very  least  advantage  you  can 
derive  from  a  knowledge  of  this  fine  art  is  to  enable 
you  to  return  to  your  own  country  a  rich  man."  In 
short,  he  so  completely  cajoled  me,  that  I  willingly 
accepted  his  proposal. 

He  then  conducted  me  to  the  hotel  of  the  noble- 
man whom  he  served,  where  I  took  my  post  and  my 
scullion's  cap,  that  is,  a  nightcap,  with  a  white  apron. 
The  first  thing  that  was  given  me  was  some  parsley 
to  shred,  which  is  always  considered  like  the  alphabet 
to  those  who  aspire  to  the  higher  degrees  in  the 
kitchen.  The  cook,  my  master,  was  a  married  man  ; 
he  had  a  house  in  the  neighbourhood  where  his  wife 
lived,  and  where  we  both  went  home  to  sleep  every 
night ;  but  I  passed  the  principal  part  of  the  day  at 
the  hotel,  where  I  was  always  ready  to  oblige  every- 
body. My  activity  and  good-nature  soon  gained  me 
the  esteem  of  my  fellow-servants  of  both  sexes. 
I  performed  their  commissions  with  punctuality, 
secrecy,  and  fidelity,  and  was  rewarded  by  many 
small  gratifications  in  return.  In  the  kitchen  I  per- 
formed my  duty  to  admiration,  and  my  master  was 
go  well  satisfied  with  me,  that  he  often  said  I  was 
born  to  tread  in  his  footsteps. 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.     275 

I  grant  that  all  this  cost  me  no  small  trouble,  but 
then  I  was  amply  recompensed  by  the  many  advan- 
tages that  my  exertions  procured  me.  Next  to  the 
profession  of  begging,  which  is  undoubtedly  the  most 
charming  condition  of  civilised  society,  I  could  not 
possibly  fare  better  than  I  did  in  this  kitchen  ;  having 
been  bred  to  good  cheer,  I  felt  myself  completely  in 
my  element.  No  plate  came  in  or  went  out  of  the 
kitchen  but  I  had  a  lick  at  it,  no  sauce  but  what  I 
tasted,  and  I  can  assure  you  my  master  made  most 
exquisite  ragouts.  The  cooks  of  St.  Giles's,  of  St. 
Dominick,  of  the  Gate  of  the  Sun,  the  great  Market 
Place  and  Toledo  Street,  must  excuse  me  if  I  rank 
him  far  above  them  in  this  art,  notwithstanding  the 
high  reputation  they  have  established. 

I  might  have  been  perfectly  happy  had  I  resisted 
the  opportunity  of  gaming;  but  I  could  not  long 
withstand  the  temptation  of  joining  the  lackeys  and 
pages,  who  were  at  cards  almost  the  whole  of  the  day. 
At  first  I  spent  only  now  and  then  a  quarter  of  an 
hour  with  them,  or  half  an  hour  at  the  utmost;  but 
when  I  found  that  my  natural  inclination  for  this 
cursed  habit  was  not  sufficiently  satisfied  by  day,  I 
was  induced  to  steal  from  my  master's  house  in  the 
night-time,  as  soon  as  I  believed  him  to  be  asleep,  for 
the  purpose  of  joining  my  companions  at  the  hotel, 
with  whom  I  generally  remained  until  sunrise  the 
next  morning.  If  my  master  had  been  informed 
of  my  conduct  he  would  undoubtedly  have  horse- 
whipped me  handsomely;  but  no  one  apprised  him 
of  it,  for  fear  of  getting  me  into  trouble.  Meantime 


#6  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

I  lost  all  the  money  that  I  had  earned  in  the  execu- 
tion of  commissions,  without  losing  my  taste  fof 
gaming — on  the  contrary,  my  desire  for  play  in- 
creased daily,  and  I  was  induced  to  steal  to  supply 
me  with  means;  this  I  had  never  yet  been  guilty  of, 
although  I  well  knew  that,  from  my  master  down- 
wards, all  the  servants  in  the  hotel  were  in  the  habit 
of  appropriating  to  their  own  use  everything  they 
could  lay  their  hands  on.  Every  one  took  good  care 
of  himself,  and  what  is  more  surprising,  though  they 
were  all  well  aware  of  each  other's  practices,  no  one 
ever  impeached  the  rest,  but  kept  the  secret  which 
equally  affected  them  all. 

Though  T  had  not  been  a  gamester  from  inclina- 
tion, and  though  I  had  not  been  from  nature  eagerly 
disposed  to  possess  myself  of  the  property  of  another, 
these  examples  alone  would  have  been  more  than 
sufficient  to  corrupt  me.  I  soon  began,  therefore,  to 
follow  the  fashion.  I  cast  my  eyes  with  eagerness 
all  over  the  house,  and  whatever  I  could  pilfer  with- 
out being  observed  was  soon  converted  into  money ; 
but,  unfortunately  for  me,  I  had  no  sooner  acquired 
it  than  I  lost  it  again  at  play. 

In  addition  to  the  opportunities  which  presented 
themselves  to  me  to  exercise  my  sleight-of-hand  at  the 
hotel,  which  rmVht  be  compared  to  a  sea  open  to  all 
sorts  of  fishermen,  I  had  my  master's  private  house, 
which,  though  indeed  but  a  small  river,  in  which  it 
was  not  likely  to  take  fish  of  any  considerable  size, 
yet  afforded  me  one  day  tolerable  good  sport.  My 
master  regaled  some  of  his  friends,  all  good  bottle- 


LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      277 

companions  and  'fond  of  good  cheer  like  himself, 
with  a  collation  one  afternoon,  treating  them  with 
andouilles  and  hams,  which  caused  them  to  drink 
three  times  as  much  as  usual.  During  this  entertain- 
ment I  was  at  the  hotel,  and  when  I  had  finished  my 
work,  returned  home  to  see  if  I  was  wanted.  The 
visitors  were  already  gone,  and  I  found  the  parlour 
intolerably  hot  and  full  of  dust,  the  cloth  still  on  the 
table,  and  the  floor  strewed  with  empty  bottles,  most 
of  them  broken.  My  master,  whom  I  did  not  see, 
but  whom  I  heard  plain  enough,  was  snoring  on  his 
bed  so  loud  as  to  make  the  whole  house  ring  with 
the  noise ;  and  my  mistress,  who  was  about  as  sober 
as  her  husband,  lay  by  him  sleeping  as  sound  as  a 
top. 

I  contemplated  for  some  moments  the  remains  of 
this  debauch,  when  I  happened  to  cast  my  eyes  on  a 
silver  goblet  which  stood  on  the  table,  and  resolved 
to  steal  it.  I  was  certain  that  nobody  had  seen  me 
come  in,  and  I  could  leave  the  house  again  equally 
unobserved.  This  reflection  was  sufficient  to  deter- 
mine me  :  "  With  your  leave,  Mr.  Goblet,"  whispered 
I,  putting  it  into  my  pocket,  "  you  shall  pay  me  for 
these  broken  bottles ; "  then  closing  the  door  softly 
after  me,  I  placed  my  booty  in  a  safe  place,  and  re- 
turned to  the  hotel  as  though  nothing  had  happened. 
Towards  evening  my  master  came  into  the  kitchen, 
somewhat  recovered  of  his  debauch,  but  in  so  peevish 
a  humour  that  he  complained  of  the  merest  trifles, 
and  immediately  began  to  quarrel  with  me  for  having 
a  fasgot  too  much  on  the  fire.  I  made  no  answer, 


278  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

but  accompanied  him  home  after  supper,  where  he 
immediately  went  to  bed.  As  to  his  wife,  she  had 
so  comfortable  a  nap  that  she  was  now  as  composed 
as  usual,  except  that  she  appeared  dull  and  vexed 
about  something.  I  inquired  the  cause  with  as  much 
effrontery  as  if  I  had  been  entirely  ignorant  of  it.  She 
informed  me  that  she  could  not  find  the  goblet,  tell- 
ing me  at  the  same  time  that  it  was  not  the  value  of 
the  thing  that  she  regretted,  but  the  passion  that  her 
husband  would  be  in  when  he  missed  it,  from  whom 
she  should  never  hear  the  last  of  it. 

I  endeavoured  to  console  her — not  to  the  utmost 
of  my  power,  for  nobody  was  so  well  able  as  myself 
had  I  been  disposed — but  by  representing  to  her  that 
this  troblet  was  not  of  so  singular  a  manufacture  but 
that  a  fellow  to  it  might  be  found  in  Madrid;  that 
she  had  nothing  therefore  to  do  but  to  purchase 
another  of  the  same  make  and  fashion,  telling  her 
husband  that  it  was  the  same  which  she  had  had  fresh- 
washed,  or  that  it  was  a  new  one  she  had  bought  by 
giving  the  other  and  a  few  reals  in  exchange.  She 
approved  of  my  advice,  and  requested  me  to  endeavour 
to  procure  one  for  her;  and  so  next  day  I  carried  the 
stolen  goblet  itself  to  a  goldsmith's  a  good  way  off 
from  our  house,  desiring  him  to  have  it  washed, 
which  he  promised  to  get  done  in  such  a  manner  for 
me  that  it  should  appear  as  good  as  new. 

I  communicated  this  good  news  to  my  mistress. 
v  Madam,"  said  I,  "  I  have  been  fortunate  enough 
to  find  a  goblet  at  a  jeweller's  shop  exactly  resembling 
the  one  you  have  lost,  but  the  quality  and  fashion  of, 


THE  LIFE  Of  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACPIE.     279 

it  are  so  excellent  that  the  very  lowest  price  at  which 
it  can  be  procured  is  fifty-six  reals."  Anxious  to  avert 
the  storm  that  threatened  her,  she  counted  me  out 
that  sum  without  hesitation,  and  gave  me  half  a  real 
for  my  trouble.  I  accordingly  carried  the  aforesaid 
goblet  to  her  in  the  evening,  which  she  thought  so 
exactly  like  the  other  that  she  said  she  was  convinced 
her  husband  would  never  know  to  the  contrary. 

The  fruits  of  this  worthy  exploit  enabled  me  to 
game  afresh.  It  was,  indeed,  a  considerable  sum  for 
a  scullion  to  apply  to  such  a  purpose ;  but,  alas !  all 
these  reals  soon  fell  into  the  gulf  which  had  already 
swallowed  up  the  produce  of  my  former  knaveries. 
Those  with  whom  I  played  were  more  experienced  in 
the  art  than  I  was,  although  I  had  learnt  among  the 
beggars  how  to  shift  the  cards,  to  make  false  cuts, 
and  many  other  villanous  tricks  of  the  like  nature. 

About  this  time  my  master  was  desired  to  prepare 
an  elegant  dinner  for  a  foreign  prince  who  had  newly 
arrived  at  Madrid.  Early  in  the  morning  of  the  day 
preceding  that  on  which  this  entertainment  was  to 
be  given,  the  cook  took  me  with  him  into  the  kitchen, 
where  the  purveyor  had  just  sent  provisions  of  every 
description  necessary  for  the  fete.  We  immediately 
began,  before  the  others  joined  us,  to  set  apart  what- 
ever we  considered  our  dues  of  office,  and  soon  filled 
a  large  sack  with  loins  of  veal,  hams,  tongues,  and 
all  kinds  of  fowls,  which  we  concealed  until  night, 
when  I  was  desired  to  convey  it  home  as  privately  as 
possible.  This  I  could  not  do  without  great  fatigue, 
so  heavily  was  I  laden.  I  afterwards  returned  to  the 


28o  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

kitchen,  where  I  found  employment  until  midnight 
in  preparing  fowls  for  dressing  on  the  next  day,  and 
after  T  had  finished  my  work,  my  master  charged  me 
with  the  care  of  a  second  sack,  containing  hares, 
pheasants,  and  partridges,  saying:  "  Here,  Guzman, 
carry  this  home  safely,  and  go  to  rest,  my  little  friend ; 
you  will  tell  my  wife  that  I  know  not  how  long  it 
may  he  before  I  come  home."  The  liar!  he  knew 
well  enough  he  should  be  obliged  to  remain  all  night 
at  the  hotel,  where  his  presence  was  absolutely  neces- 
sary to  superintend  the  other  cooks,  who  were  actively 
engaged  under  his  directions.  But  "he  was  rather  in- 
clined to  be  jealous,  although  his  wife  was  no  beauty ; 
and  he  only  sent  her  this  message  to  deceive  her,  that 
she  might  regulate  her  conduct  accordingly,  evidently 
fearin<r  that  she  miirht  think  fit  to  call  in  a  neighbour 
to  fill  his  place  during  his  absence ;  this  being  a  kind 
office  which  people  are  as  ready  to  perform  towards 
cooks  as  towards  other  absent  husbands. 

Having  reached  home,  the  first  thing  I  did  was  to 
hanir  the  contents  of  my  sack  in  rows  along  the  wall, 
which  formed  a  very  pleasant-looking  tapestry,  after 
which  I  began  to  think  of  going  to  bed,  for  I  stood 
much  in  need  of  rest  after  so  hard  a  day's  work.  My 
mistress,  who  slept  in  the  lower  parlour,  was  already 
in  bed.  I  ascended  to  my  apartment,  which  was  a 
garret  into  which  the  sun  darted  its  rays  from  morn- 
ing till  night,  making  it  as  hot  by  night  as  by  day. 
I  threw  off  my  shirt  to  be  more  cool,  and  stretched 
myself  as  naked  as  I  was  born  on  the  sorry  bed  in 
which  I  usually  lay;  but  my  slumbers,  sound  as  they 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.     281 

were,  were  disturbed  about  an  hour  afterwards  by  a 
most  frightful  noise,  occasioned  by  cats,  who  were 
fighting  desperately,  and  the  gallery  appeared  to  me 
to  be  the  field  of  battle.  This  made  me  uneasy. 
"  There  will  be  the  devil  to  pay,"  said  I  to  myself, 
"  if  these  malicious  animals  should  fall  upon  our 
provender!  it  were  best  for  me  to  go  and  see  what  is 
the  matter  that  creates  so  terrible  a  din."  Hereupon 
I  jumped  out  of  bed ;  and  not  staying  to  put  on  my 
shirt  that  I  might  not  lose  so  much  time,  I  hastened 
to  descend  into  the  gallery ;  but  scarcely  had  I  set 
foot  on  my  ladder,  for  I  had  no  other  staircase,  than 
I  perceived  a  light  before  me,  which  stopped  me 
short.  I  looked  round  to  discover  whence  it  pro- 
ceeded, and  observed  a  figure  all  naked  like  myself, 
and  so  black  that  I  took  it  to  be  no  other  than 
the  devil  himself.  This  phantom,  which  made  me 
tremble  like  an  aspen  leaf,  was  my  mistress,  who, 
having  been  also  waked  by  the  cats,  had  come  to  the 
assistance  of  our  pheasants  and  partridges  with  a 
lamp  in  her  hand,  and  clothed  like  myself  in  parts 
naturalibus,  having  neglected  to  put  her  shift  on 
again  on  so  pressing  an  occasion.  As  we  thought 
each  other  sound  asleep,  this  precaution  had  been 
considered  superfluous  by  us  both.  We  perceived 
each  other  at  the  same  moment,  and  if  I  took  her 
for  a  devil  she  took  me  for  a  sprite.  I  shrieked  out 
most  horribly,  and  she  echoed  me  with  equal  strength 
of  lungs,  and  ran  into  her  chamber  almost  frightened  to 
death,  whilst  I  endeavoured  to  regain  my  garret ;  but 
as  my  ill  luck  would  have  it,  I  slipped  from  the  ladder. 


282  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

and  fell  with  such  violence  into  the  gallery  that  I  wai 
bruised  from  head  to  foot. 

I  got  up  again  with  considerable  difficulty,  and 
groped  my  way  along  in  the  dark  until  I  came  to  a 
place  where  I  knew  there  was  a  tinder-box,  as  well  as 
some  matches  and  ends  of  candles.  I  obtained  a 
light,  with  which  I  returned  to  the  gallery,  to  see 
whether  the  combatants  were  still  there,  but  our 
cries  had  frightened  them  away.  Finding  that  the 
enemy  was  fled,  I  examined  the  articles  with  which 
1  had  lined  the  walls,  one  after  another,  and  found 
that  the  bloody  battle,  the  noise  of  which  had  dis- 
turbed my  mistress  and  myself,  had  been  occasioned 
by  the  contention  for  a  larded  hare,  for  a  share  of 
which  the  cats  had  disputed  with  so  much  rage  that 
there  was  nothing  remaining  of  it  but  the  bones. 

I  put  all  our  provisions  as  much  out  of  their  reach 
as  I  could,  and  went  to  bed  again ;  but  to  sleep  was 
impossible,  for  in  addition  to  the  pain  caused  by  my 
bruises,  I  could  not  get  my  mistress's  figure  out  of 
my  mind,  whose  swarthy  skin  I  fancied  still  before 
my  eyes.  The  sight  of  a  woman  like  this  naked,  is 
frightful  indeed ! 

Day  having  at  length  come  to  dispel  the  visions  of 
so  disagreeable  a  night,  I  rose  and  dressed  myself  to 
attend  my  master,  who  had  given  me  strict  orders  to 
be  with  him  very  early  in  the  morning.  As  soon  as 
I  saw  him,  he  inquired  after  his  wife  and  family,  and 
I  told  him  that  my  mistress  was  well,  and  that  I  had 
left  everything  in  the  house  in  good  order;  not 
thinking  it  prudent  to  inform  him  of  the  adventure 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      283 

of  the  cats,  for  fear  he  should  think  fit  to  impute  to 
me  the  sad  fate  that  the  hare  had  met  with,  and 
punish  me  for  my  negligence  accordingly. 

The  bustle  and  confusion  in  which  our  kitchen 
now  was,  in  preparing  to  entertain  the  prince  who 
was  expected,  would  have  formed  a  fine  subject  for  a 
painter.  Every  one  was  in  action,  not  only  those 
employed  in  the  kitchen,  but  also  those  who  were 
constantly  passing  to  and  fro.  We  needed  only  to 
ask  to  have  anything,  which  every  one  took  care  to 
do  pretty  freely.  The  provisions  seemed  to  vanish 
as  quickly  as  they  appeared ;  one  said,  "  Bring  me 
sugar  for  the  tarts,"  and  another  cried,  "  Bring  me 
more  tarts  to  be  sugared."  Thus  it  was  with  all  the 
rest ;  nothing  was  necessary  but  to  vary  the  manner 
of  asking  a  little,  to  obtain  anything  twice  or  thrice 
over.  We  call  these  grand  entertainments,  jubilees, 
as  though  we  thought  to  obtain  indulgences  by 
robbing  the  master  whose  bread  we  were  eating.  It 
is  certain  that  the  river  overflowed  on  these  occasions 
on  all  sides,  and  the  fish  swam  in  deep  water.  For 
my  own  part,  being  but  a  small  sparrow-hawk,  I 
waited  patiently  until  the  kites  and  other  larger 
birds  of  prey  had  their  talons  full;  in  the  meantime, 
however,  my  hands  itched  so  immoderately,  that  I 
could  not  refrain  from  clipping  into  a  basket  of  eggs, 
and  slipped  half  a  dozen  of  them  into  my  pocket. 

Ill  luck  still  pursued  me;  my  master  saw  me,  and 
wishing  to  establish  the  reputation  of  an  honest  man 
and  zealous  servant  at  my  expense,  in  the  presence 
of  so  many  of  the  house  servants,  he  came  up  to  me 


284  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

with  a  savage  countenance,  and  gave  me  such  a 
kick  that  he  laid  me  sprawling  on  the  ground,  and 
as  I  happened  to  fall  on  that  side  where  I  had  the 
pocketful  of  eggs,  they  all  broke,  and  made  an  omelet 
which  ran  down  my  thighs,  to  the  great  amusement 
of  the  company  present,  with  the  exception  of  my 
master,  who  still  looked  very  serious,  and  adding 
menaces  and  reproaches  to  insult,  told  me,  that  "  he 
would  teach  me  to  steal  in  so  great  a  lord's  house." 
I  was  so  enraged  at  the  behaviour  of  this  rascally 
cook  towards  me,  that  it  was  with  great  difficulty  I 
refrained  from  answering,  that  nobody,  inde  d,  could 
teach  me  better  than  himself;  and  that  th<  se  eggg 
for  which  he  had  chastised  me  were  laid  by  the 
fowls  he  had  ordered  me  to  carry  home  to  his  house 
the  night  before ;  but  I  held  my  tongue,  and  thereby 
escaped  any  further  kicking,  with  which  so  laconic 
an  answer  would  certainly  have  been  rewarded. 
Take  lesson  from  my  behaviour  on  this  occasion, 
reader,  if  you  happen  to  be  so  fortunate  as  to  recol- 
lect it,  when  you  feel  desirous  to  show  your  wit  by 
some  satirical  speech  which  may  be  of  ill  consequence 
to  you  in  your  future  welfare. 

Notwithstanding  this  unlucky  accident,  I  managed 
afterwards  to  pocket  unobserved  two  partridges,  four 
quails,  and  half  of  a  roast  pheasant,  with  some  sweet- 
breads of  veal,  which  I  secured  less  from  interest 
than  to  try  my  dexterity ;  not  being  willing  to  have 
it  said  of  me,  that  I  had  been  at  Court  without  seeing 
the  king,  or  at  a  wedding  without  kissing  the  bride. 
The  banquet  being  over,  as  my  master  and  I  were 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      285 

returning  home  together  in  the  evening,  he  said  to 
me;  "Guzman,  niy  friend,  think  no  more  of  what 
passed  between  us  in  the  kitchen  this  morning ;  for- 
get the  kick  I  was  obliged  to  give  you;  it  behoved 
me  more  than  you  can  imagine  to  treat  you  in  this 
manner;  it  was  a  piece -of  policy  for  which  I  was 
sorry  in  the  main.  But  think  of  it  no  longer,  my 
lad,  and  to  make  you  amends  for  this  little  accident 
I  will  make  you  a  present  of  a  new  pair  of  shoes 
to-morrow."  This  was  an  article  I  was  so  much  in 
need  of,  that  I  was  delighted  with  the  promise,  and 
my  resentment  against  him  instantly  subsided.  He 
did  not,  however,  keep  his  word,  being  prevented  by 
what  happened  the  next  day. 

My  mistress  gave  me  a  very  sour  look  when  we 
got  home;  whence  I  conceived  that  she  had  taken 
an  aversion  to  me  on  account  of  the  last  night's 
adventure,  and  I  was  not  deceived  in  my  opinion, 
for  she  seemed  evidently  ashamed  to  look  me  in  the 
face.  But  I  am  convinced  that  she  was  less  mortified 
at  my  having  seen  her  naked,  than  afraid  of  the  fine 
report  I  might  make  of  the  adventure.  I  went  to 
bed,  however,  without  feeling  much  anxiety  as  to 
what  she  thought,  and  resolved  to  sell  the  game  and 
veal  sweetbreads  I  had  stolen  the  next  day.  I  rose 
so  early  in  the  morning,  that  I  left  my  master  in 
bed,  and  ran  to  the  market,  quite  sure  that  I  should 
have  abundance  of  time  to  dispose  of  my  merchan- 
dise, and  still  to  get  to  the  hotel  before  him.  I  soon 
found  a  purchaser  in  an  old  cook,  whom  I  never  fail 
to  curse  whenever  I  happen  to  think  of  him,  who 


286  MATED  ALE  MAN. 

professed  himself  ready  to  buy  whatever  I  had.  1 
was  so  pressed  for  time  that  the  bargain  was  soon 
struck ;  and  I  agreed  to  let  him  have  my  provisions 
tor  six  reals,  and  was  only  waiting  for  my  money  to 
start  off  as  swift  as  a  roebuck ;  but  this  old  dotard 
was  as  punctilious  and  slow  as  I  was  hasty  and 
impatient.  He  must  first  put  a  register  which  he 
held  in  his  hand  under  his  arm,  then  take  off"  his 
ragged  gloves,  and  hang  them  to  his  girdle ;  after 
which  he  pulled  out  his  spectacles  and  spent  about 
half  an  hour  in  cleaning  them  to  examine  the  money 
he  was  going  to  pay  me. 

In  vain  did  I  entreat  him  to  make  more  haste, 
telling  him  I  had  an  affair  of  consequence  which 
called  me  elsewhere;  he  was  deaf  to  my  prayer. 
How  long  a  time  did  he  consume  in  untying  his 
purse,  and  how  many  pieces  of  money  did  he  amuse 
himself  with  looking  at,  one  after  another,  before  he 
began  counting  the  money  into  my  hands,  by  quar- 
ters and  half  quarters  of  reals,  and  even  maravedis  : 
all  this  almost  drove  me  mad.  "  What,  old  fumbler," 
muttered  I  between  my  teeth;  "can  such  a  trifling 
old  cur  wish  to  enrage  me,  or  to  amuse  me  here,  until 
my  master,  who  is  already  suspicious  of  me,  and  who, 
perhaps,  is  at  this  moment  looking  everywhere  for 
me,  come  up  and  surprise  me  ?  "  This,  it  appears,  1 
had  more  reason  to  apprehend  than  I  imagined ;  the 
cook  had  heard  me  leave  the  house,  and  was  much 
surprised  at  such  extraordinary  diligence;  and  sus- 
pecting that  I  had  some  new  scheme  in  my  head,  he 
got  up  and  dressed  himself  hastily  that  he  might  be  at 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHB.      287 

my  heels;  so  that  he  stood  immediately  behind  me  at 
the  very  moment  the  old  man  had  at  last  got  over  the 
ceremony  of  paying  me.  "  Ho !  ho  !  my  boy,  "  cried 
my  master,  seizing  me  by  the  hand  and  taking  the 
money,  "  what  fine  bargain  is  this  you  are  making?  " 
At  these  words  I  stood  more  confounded  than  a  smuggler 
who  is  caught  in  the  fact.  I  made  no  reply,  and  was 
even  patient  enough  to  submit  to  another  good  kick, 
accompanied  by  a  thousand  reproaches.  He  did  not 
leave  me  until  he  had  forbidden  me  ever  to  enter  his 
house  again,  and  threatened  to  thrash  me  soundly  if 
I  was  ever  insolent  enough  to  pass  the  door  of  the 
hotel.  My  friend  the  merchant,  unluckily  for  him, 
remained  on  the  spot  until  the  close  of  this  scene, 
which  was  in  consequence  little  better  for  him  than 
for  me;  for,  attributing  my  present  misfortune  to  this 
old  sorcerer,  I  fell  on  him  in  my  passion,  and  snatched 
my  partridges  and  pheasants,  telling  him  I  was  deter- 
mined to  have  my  own  goods,  and  that  he  might  get 
his  money  if  he  could  from  the  knave  who  had  run 
off  with  it.  Thus  saying  I  disappeared  like  a  flash 
of  lightning,  to  sell  my  game  in  some  other  market, 
leaving  this  phlegmatic  old  gentleman  to  his  own 
thoughts  upon  the  adventure,  which  he  most  pro- 
bably considered  a  plan  concerted  between  the  cook 
and  me  to  cheat  him  out  of  his  money. 


(    288 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

fROM  THE  SERVICE  OF  THE  COOK,  GUZMAN  RETURNS  TO 
THE  BEGGING  TRADE,  AND  ROBS  AN  APOTHECARY. 

WISDOM  is  better  than  riches,  since  Fortune  is  but  a 
fickle  goddess,  who  bereaves  us  one  day,  of  what  she 
has  bestowed  on  us  the  preceding.  During  the  course 
of  our  lives  she  makes  us  resemble  comedians,  who 
have  every  day  new  parts  to  study,  and  must  appear 
in  different  characters.  Who  could  have  thought 
that  after  having  served  the  cook  so  faithfully  he 
would  have  turned  me  out  of  doors  for  so  trifling  an 
offence?  It  is  true  that  thus  the  world  wags,  and 
that  persons  of  much  greater  consequence  than  my- 
self are  constantly  treated  in  the  same  manner  by  the 
great  upon  the  most  trivial  occasion,  after  having 
rendered  them  a  thousand  services. 

Stop,  Guzman,  cry  you,  or  you  will  lose  yourself 
in  moral  reflections.  Whither  will  this  learned  dis- 
course lead  you?  To  my  basket  again,  reply  I;  yes, 
my  friend,  to  my  basket,  which,  having  now  become 
to  me  as  useful  as  eloquence  was  to  Demosthenes,  or 
stratagems  to  Ulysses,  consoled  me  under  my  present 
misfortune.  Long  may  the  basket  trade  flourish, 
which  a  man  having  once  tried  will  never  fail  to 
resume.  I  must  candidly  confess  that  when  I  re- 
turned to  it  I  was  much  in  the  same  condition  as 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.     289 

when  I  was  fool  enough  to  leave  it;  for  all  the  pro- 
duce of  my  former  knaveries  during  the  time  I  had 
been  scullion  had  gone  as  lightly  as  it  came,  and,  with 
the  exception  of  a  finer  suit  of  clothes,  I  was  no  better 
off  than  before. 

That  my  returning  to  my  old  employment,  how- 
ever, might  not  be  attributed  to  my  indolent  and  dis- 
contented disposition,  I  determined,  before  I  purchased 
a  new  basket,  to  offer  my  services  to  some  cooks  of 
my  master's  acquaintance  who  knew  me.  If  they 
had  received  me,  it  was  my  intention  to  have  rendered 
myself  thoroughly  knowing  in  kitchen  affairs,  in  which 
I  had  already  made  so  good  a  beginning,  and  for  which 
I  might  boast  a  most  happy  disposition;  but  they 
had  heard  of  my  inclination  for  gaming,  and  that 
nothing  was  safe  within  my  reach  when  I  wanted 
money,  and  thus,  finding  there  was  no  chance  of 
obtaining  another  situation  of  this  description,  I  was 
compelled  to  resume  my  former  occupation.  I  there- 
fore took  up  my  basket  again;  and  though  I  did  not 
fare  so  well  among  my  comrades  as  at  the  hotel  from 
which  I  had  been  dismissed,  yet  I  was  once  more 
independent  and  completely  master  of  my  own 
actions.  Being  naturally  sober,  this  sort  of  life  was 
more  adapted  to  my  inclinations  than  the  other,  so 
that  I  had  but  little  reason  to  regret  leaving  a  house 
in  which  I  was  led  into  a  thousand  intemperances. 

We  basket-bearers  had  a  small  row  of  houses,  or 
rather  hovels,  near  the  market,  which  we  had  bought 
at  our  own  expense.  Here  it  was  that  we  usually 
regaled  ourselves  and  held  our  merry  meetings.  I 


290  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

always  got  up  with  the  sun,  and  was  ready  at  every- 
body's call,  by  which  means  I  never  failed  to  secure 
a  profitable  day's  work  from  such  of  the  citizens  as 
kept  no  servants,  who  employed  me  to  carry  home 
the  provisions  they  purchased ;  and  the  faithful  man- 
ner in  which  I  performed  their  commissions  soon 
established  my  credit  in  the  several  markets. 

About  this  time  commissions  were  issued  to  the 
different  regiments  to  raise  new  levies.  When  any- 
thing of  this  nature  happens  the  report  soon  gets 
abroad,  the  people  assemble  in  every  direction  to 
discuss  the  subject,  and  a  council  of  state  is  held  in 
almost  every  house.  In  ours,  as  you  may  imagine, 
we  canvassed  the  designs  of  the  Court  as  freely  as  the 
best  of  them,  and  had  some  politicians  among  us 
whose  conjectures  were  not  very  far  from  the  truth. 
Good  sense  is  to  be  found  in  every  condition.  When 
we  were  all  assembled  at  night  each  reported  what  he 
had  heard  or  seen  during  the  day  in  the  principal 
families  in  the  city,  and  we  formed  our  opinions 
accordingly ;  and  I  can  assure  you  that,  though  some 
among  us  reasoned  absurdly,  yet  there  were  others, 
the  solidity  and  good  sense  of  whose  arguments  were 
fully  justified  by  the  occurrence  of  events  which  they 
predicted.  I  well  remember  that,  among  others,  our 
fraternity  could  boast  of  a  certain  beggar  with  wooden 
legs,  who  never  left  his  post  on  a  bridge,  where  he 
begged  the  whole  of  the  day,  whose  acquaintance 
with  state  affairs  would  have  astonished  a  prime 
minister. 

We  concluded  then  that  these  new  levies  that  were 


THE  LIFE  OP  GUZMAN  VALFARACHE.      291 

making,  the  destination  of  which  was  concealed,  must 
be  intended  for  Italy;  and  this,  you  will  see,  proved 
to  be  true.  The  first  time  I  heard  these  troops  men- 
tioned they  brought  into  my  mind  my  intended 
journey  to  Genx>a,  and  made  such  an  impression  on 
my  spirits  that  I  did  not  sleep  a  wink  the  whole 
night.  I  felt  more  anxious  than  ever  to  see  my  rela- 
tions, from  whom  I  did  not  doubt  I  should  obtain 
a  brilliant  fortune,  everybody  telling  me  that  they 
were  exceedingly  rich,  and  many  of  them  with- 
out children,  which  latter  I  considered  would  be 
charmed  to  have  an  heir  of  so  great  merit  as  myself. 
To  these  flattering  expectations,  however,  unpleasant 
id?as  soon  succeeded.  "  How,"  thought  I,  "  can  I 
have  the  insolence  to  appear  before  these  noble 
Genoese  in  this  miserable  dress?  and  though  I  tell 
them  I  am  their  kinsman,  are  they  likely  to  credit 
my  assertions?  I  hope  they  may  be  simple  enough 
to  believe  me ;  but  I  fear  they  cannot  fail  to  treat  me 
like  a  rogue  and  an  impostor,  if  only  to  support  the 
honour  of  the  family.  Perhaps  I  may  not  escape  even 
so  well  as  this,  for  my  father,  who  was  thoroughly 
acquainted  with  the  dispositions  of  his  countrymen, 
has  often  said  that  a  Genoese  is  not  to  be  trusted  in 
any  case  where  his  interest  or  reputation  is  concerned. 
Still,"  thought  I,  "  they  may  be  honest  like  my  father; 
and  I  am  persuaded  that  they  will  entertain  too  great 
a  respect  for  the  memory  of  their  deceased  relative  to 
refuse  to  assist  me  in  my  present  distressing  situation. 
They  are  too  prudent  to  venture  to  treat  me.  as  an 
impostor  before  they  have  interrogated  me  as  to  our 


291  MATEO  ALE  MAN. 

family  affairs;  and  in  this  respect  I  shall  be  well  able 
to  answer,  for  I  can  tell  them  such  particulars  as  none 
but  my  father's  son  could  possibly  be  acquainted  with, 
and  which,  being  not  proper  to  be  made  public,  they 
will  undoubtedly  be  obliged  to  do  something  for  me 
that  I  may  not  divulge  them." 

Thus  I  wavered  betwixt  hope  and  fear.  Sometimes 
I  thought  that  I  flattered  myself  too  much,  and  at 
other  times  that  I  desponded  without  reason.  I 
paused  at  the  latter  reflection,  which  was  the  more 
consolatory  of  the  two,  and,  hoping  to  fulfil  the  pro- 
verb which  says,  "  He  that  wishes  to  be  Pope,  need 
only  fancy  himself  one,"  I  resolved  to  avail  myself  of 
the  favourable  opportunity  which  now  presented  itself 
of  getting  into  Italy,  by  joining  the  levies  that  were 
raising.  One  day  as  I  was  sitting  at  my  usual  post 
reflecting  on  the  pleasures  I  should  enjoy  at  Genoa, 
my  agreeable  reverie  was  disturbed  by  some  one  who 
called  me  two  or  three  times.  I  turned  round  to  see 
who  it  could  be  that  was  so  well  acquainted  with  my 
name,  and  perceived  that  it  was  an  old  apothecary 
who  had  often  employed  me  before.  He  beckoned 
me  to  come  to  him,  and  I  ran  immediately ;  but  two 
of  my  companions,  who  were  nearer  to  him,  got  before 
me  and  proffered  their  services  before  I  came  up. 
He,  however,  repulsed  them  sharply,  saying, "  No,  no; 
get  you  gone,  birds  of  prey ;  this  is  not  a  morsel  for 
you,  but  for  my  faithful  Guzman."  He  little  thought 
he  spoke  so  truly.  Then  addressing  himself  to  me, 
who  had  just  come  up,  "  Open  thy  basket,"  added 
he,  and  he  threw  into  it  three  bags  of  money,  which 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  UALFARACHE.      293 

he    had    with    him    wrapped    in    the   corner  of  his 
cloak. 

"To  what  brazier  must  I  carry  all  this  copper?" 
quoth  I  with  a  smile. 

"  This  copper !  "  answered  the  apothecary,  laughing 
outright ;  "  here's  a  pretty  rogue  of  a  beggar  that 
takes  silver  for  copper.  Come,  march  on,"  continued 
he,  "for  I  am  in  haste;  I  have  engaged  to  pay  a 
foreign  merchant  this  money  to-day,  who  has  sold  me 
some  drugs." 

This  might  have  been  his  intention,  but  I  had 
formed  another  to  defeat  it  the  instant  I  heard  those 
charming  words,  "open  thy  basket."  The  news  of 
the  birth  of  an  only  son  causes  less  joy  to  a  tender 
parent  than  I  felt  at  those  sweet  words,  which  en- 
graved themselves  on  my  heart,  if  I  may  so  express 
it,  in  letters  of  gold.  I  looked  on  these  three  bags 
as  a  present  sent  me  from  Heaven,  to  enable  me  to 
support  the  part  I  had  to  perform  at  Genoa,  and 
concluded  them  already  my  own.  As  my  man  had 
not  the  slightest  suspicion  of  me,  being  already  well 
convinced,  as  he  conceived,  of  my  honesty,  he  walked 
before,  and  I  followed  him,  pretending  now  and  then 
that  I  was  obliged  to  rest  myself  a  little,  as  if  my 
burden  were  too  great,  although,  in  truth,  I  could 
have  wished  it  much  heavier.  I  never  was  so  anxious 
to  meet  a  crowd  of  people  as  on  this  occasion,  or  even 
a  sly  turning  by  which  I  could  suddenly  disappear 
from  my  unsuspecting  friend,  the  apothecary.  We 
chanced,  however,  shortly  to  pass  a  house  with  which 
I  was  well  acquainted,  the  front  and  back  doors  of 


294  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

which  stood  most  invitingly  open.  I  could  not  allow 
this  opportunity  to  escape  me,  but  entered  instantly, 
and  passed  through  the  house  without  meeting  with 
any  interruption,  and  in  less  than  two  minutes  had 
got  through  two  or  three  streets  as  though  I  had 
wings  to  my  feet.  I  then  resumed  my  usual  pace 
to  avoid  suspicion,  being  far  enough  from  my  apothe- 
cary, and  walked  on  as  demurely  as  though  nothing 
had  happened. 

In  this  manner  I  soon  arrived  at  the  gate  De  la 
Vega,  that  is  to  say,  the  open  country,  whence  with 
the  same  grave  countenance  I  gained  the  bank  of  the 
Manganares;  then,  crossing  over  to  Casa  del  Campo, 
I  travelled  a  good  league  through  woods  and  thickets, 
and,  as  night  approached,  stopped  among  some  pop- 
lars very  near  to  the  river,  where  I  began  to  consider 
how  I  should  proceed.  "  It  is  not  enough,"  said  I, 
"  to  have  begun  so  well,  I  must  continue  in  the  same 
manner.  Of  what  use  will  this  prize  be  to  me  if  I 
cannot  take  care  of  it  now  that  I  have  got  it?  If 
I  should  happen  to  be  nabbed,  I -shall  not  only  be 
obliged  to  refund,  but  may  lose  both  my  ears  to  wit; 
let  me  therefore  look  out  for  some  place  where  I  may 
deposit  my  money  in  safety." 

After  having  looked  about  for  some  time  I  made  a 
hole  about  two  feet  deep  at  the  bottom  of  the  river, 
and  let  down  my  basket  and  bags  of  money  into  it. 
Then  covering  them  with  large  stones  to  prevent 
them  from  floating,  I  set  up  a  stake  in  the  sand  near 
the  spot,  that  I  might  be  sure  of  recollecting  where 
my  darling  treasure  lay  concealed.  After  this  grand 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  VALFARACHE.      295 

operation  I  went  to  sleep  at  the  foot  of  a  tree  hard 
by,  where  I  passed  the  night,  not  altogether  free 
from  anxiety,  though  perfectly  well  satisfied  with 
the  reflection  that  I  was  now  so  well  off.  When 
daylight  appeared  I  hid  myself  in  a  thicket  until  it 
was  dark  again,  when  hunger,  which  drives  the  wolf 
from  the  wood,  obliged  me  to  leave  my  haimts  to  go 
and  purchase  some  provisions,  not  at  either  of  the 
villages  in  the  environs,  where  in  all  probability  the 
apothecary  would  have  sent  the  alguazils  after  me, 
but  at  Madrid  itself,  where  I  could  best  be  concealed. 
Having  a  little  money  in  my  pocket,  independent 
of  my  hoard,  I  ventured  into  the  town,  whence  I 
returned  in  about  three  hours  with  a  hamper  con- 
taining provisions  sufficient  for  eight  days,  and  spent 
the  greater  part  of  the  night  in  cramming  myself 
with  this  good  cheer. 

When  I  awoke  the  next  morning,  I  felt  most 
curious  to  examine  the  contents  of  the  three  bags. 
In  vain  did  I  reflect  that  it  must  be  the  devil  that 
tempted  me,  and  that  I  could  not  satisfy  my  curio- 
sity without  running  the  risk  of  being  observed.  I 
could  not  help  yielding  to  this  gratification,  which 
was  certainly  the  sincerest  T  had  ever  felt  in  my  life. 
I  advanced  to  the  side  of  the  river,  and  after  having 
looked  on  all  sides  to  see  if  anybody  was  near,  I  drew 
my  basket  out  of  the  water  and  carried  it,  dripping 
with  wet  as  it  was,  into  my  place  of  retreat.  Here  I 
opened  my  bags,  and  found  about  two  thousand  five 
hundred  reals  in  them,  all  in  silver,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  thirty  pistoles  in  gold,  which  I  discovered 


296  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

carefully  wrapped  up  in  one  of  the  bags.  I  spent 
the  whole  of  this  day  with  the  sincerest  pleasure  in 
counting  my  pieces  over  and  over  again;  and  when 
night  came  on,  I  put  the  whole  into  the  basket  again, 
and  secured  them  in  their  former  hiding-place. 

As  it  is  not  my  intention,  however,  to  pretend  to 
entertain  my  reader  with  a  journal,  I  need  only  add 
that,  after  having  concealed  myself  in  this  manner  in 
the  wood  for  a  full  fortnight,  I  considered  that  I  had 
no  longer  anything  to  fear,  and  that  all  the  hounds 
of  justice  had  by  this  time  so  completely  lost  scent 
of  me  as  to  have  given  over  their  pursuit.  I  fished 
up  my  treasure  again,  which  I  deposited  at  the  bottom 
of  my  hamper,  under  some  fresh  provisions  which  I 
had  been  again  to  Madrid  to  procure.  As  to  my 
basket,  I  left  that  in  the  water  with  the  stones  upon 
it.  I  then  cut  me  two  good  sticks,  one  to  carry  my 
burthen  on  my  back,  and  the  other  I  made  into  a 
sort  of  pilgrim's  staff;  after  which,  like  a  new  pilgrim, 
I  took  my  route  towards  Toledo  across  the  fields, 
thinking  it  more  prudent  to  avoid  the  highroads. 


CHAPTER   XIV- 

GUZMAN     ON    HIS     WAY      TO     TOLEDO     MEETS     WITH    A 
YOUNG  MAN :    WHAT  PASSED    BETWEEN    THEM. 

I  TRIPPED  along  so  briskly  that  after  two  nights' 
trudge  I  found  myself  in  the  midst  of  the  Sagra, 
near  a  wpoc}  called  Aguqueyca,  within  about  two 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      297 

leagues  of  Toledo.  I  entered  this  wood,  intending 
to  rest  there  the  whole  of  the  day,  that  I  might  rot 
enter  the  city  till  night.  I  sat  down  under  a  shady 
tree,  and  began  to  think  in  what  manner  I  should 
spend  my  money.  I  soon  determined  on  so  many 
fine  purchases  that  four  times  what  I  possessed 
would  have  been  insufficient  to  have  procured  them. 
It  were  impossible  to  enumerate  the  variety  of 
visions  and  fancies  that  possessed  my  mind.  I  was 
no  longer  afraid  of  appearing  before  my  relations 
like  a  besfsfar,  but  now  looked  forward  with  pleasure 
to  my  arrival  at  Genoa,  and  all  the  purchases  that  I 
made  in  my  mind  were  with  a  view  to  cut  a  most 
brilliant  figure  among  them. 

A  stream  of  clear  spring  water  ran  at  my  feet, 
with  which  I  found  myself  much  refreshed,  and, 
beginning  to  feel  hungry,  I  spread  my  provisions  on 
the  grass  for  breakfast.  Scarcely  had  I  eaten  a 
mouthful  when  I  heard  a  noise,  and,  turning  round 
hastily,  I  was  much  alarmed  at  perceiving  a  man 
close  behind  me,  seated  also  on  the  grass,  with  his 
head  reclining  against  a  tree.  But  when  I  considered 
him  with  attention  I  soon  found  that  I  had  nothing 
to  fear.  He  appeared  to  be  about  my  own  age,  but 
seemed  as  raw  and  inexperienced  as  if  he  had  not 
been  long  weaned  from  his  mother's  breast.  Although 
he  was  well  dressed  and  had  a  large  bundle  lying  at 
his  side,  through  which  I  could  discern  some  clothes 
and  linen,  he  looked  so  unhappy  that  I  judged  his 
purse  could  not  be  very  full,  and  set  him  down  for 
some  knight-errant  like  myself,  who  had  been  fool 


298  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

enough  to  forsake  his  family  to  wander  about  the 
world.  We  stared  at  each  other  for  some  moments 
withou..  saying  a  word ;  but  when  I  observed  that  he 
looked  with  a  longing  eye  on  my  provisions,  I  could 
not  help  pitying  him.  His  eager  looks  reminded  me 
of  my  own  feelings  when  I  stood  before  the  kind- 
hearted  monk  at  the  inn,  and  I  determined  not  to 
be  less  generous  than  his  reverence.  I  therefore 
immediately  invited  this  young  man  in  the  most 
polite  manner  to  breakfast  with  me.  Shame  pre- 
vented him  at  first  from  accepting  my  offer ;  but 
when  I  repeated  it  he  laid  aside  his  modesty,  and 
confessed  to  me  that  he  had  not  tasted  anything  for 
the  last  four  and  twenty  hours.  This  I  found  no 
difficulty  in  believing  when  I  saw  in  what  style  he 
demolished  the  meat  and  the  bread  and  cheese  I 
gave  him. 

During  the  repast  we  inquired  of  each  other  con- 
cerning our  travels.  He  told  me  that  he  had  come 
from  Toledo  and  was  going  to  Madrid ;  and  I  ac- 
quainted him  that  I  had  just  come  from  Burgos 
and  was  on  my  way  to  Cordova.  He  then  related 
a  most  romantic  story  about  the  occasion  of  his 
pilgrimage,  and  I  was  not  more  sincere  with  him ; 
considering  that  he  was  but  a  novice,  he  lied  with  a 
very  good  grace,  and  by  no  means  disgraced  his 
countrymen,  who  have  the  reputation  for  wit  and 
smart  answers  on  every  occasion.  I  asked  him  how 
he  came  to  set  out  on  his  journey  without  providing 
himself  with  victuals.  He  replied  that  he  had  not 
had  time  to  procure  any,  having  been  forced  to  leave 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      299 

the  place  with  precipitation,  and  that  he  was  more 
laden  with  clothes  than  money 

"So  much  the  worse,"  said  I,  "so  much  the 
worse ;  money  is  the  most  necessary  commodity  for 
a  traveller  nowadays;  for  even  though  you  were 
going  on  a  pilgrimage  to  St.  Jago  in  Galicia,  I  would 
not  advise  you  to  reckon  much  upon  charity,  which 
has  grown  very  cold  of  late ;  you  will  find  something 
more  than  your  staff  necessary  to  support  you  by 
the  way." 

"  I  perfectly  agree  with  you,"  replied  the  Toledan, 
'*  and  am  well  aware  of  my  imprudence  in  setting 
out  without  provisions;  but  as  it  cannot  now  be 
remedied,  it  is  useless  to  regret  it." 

"  It  is  in  your  own  power,"  answered  I,  "  to  repair 
your  neglect  by  disposing  of  a  part  of  the  clothes 
contained  in  that  large  bundle,  which  you  must  find 
extremely  burdensome.  Money  is  more  portable." 

"  Granted,"  said  he,  "  and  I  need  not  inform  you 
that  it  is  my  intention  to  sell  at  least  half  of  them 
as  soon  as  I  can  find  a  purchaser." 

"  Perhaps,"  replied  I,  "  without  going  any  farther, 
you  have  a  man  before  you  who  is  willing  to  relieve 
you  of  the  greater  part  of  your  load,  and  give  you  as 
much  for  them  as  they  are  worth.  Show  me  the 
contents  of  your  bundle,  and  I  will  select  such  as  I 
am  inclined  to  purchase." 

My  little  gentleman  turned  pale  at  these  words; 
he  considered  me  a  knave  who  intended  to  repay 
myself  for  the  breakfast  by  .robbing  him  of  a  part  of 
his  property,  or  at  least  that  I  was  willing  to  amuse 


5oo  MATEO  ALE  MAN. 

myself  at  his  expense;  for  when  he  surveyed  my 
elegant  attire,  which  was  not  worth  four  maravedis, 
he  could  not  for  a  moment  think  that  I  was  in 
earnest.  Every  one  is  apt  to  judge  in  this  manner, 
forming  opinions  of  strangers  from  the  difference  of 
dress  and  outward  appearances.  "  Such  as  I  see  you, 
such  I  take  you  to  be." 

I  observed  his  confusion,  or,  rather,  saw  plainly 
that  he  suspected  my  intentions ;  and  as  he  made  no 
answer,  I  drew  out  one  of  my  bags,  very  deliberately 
untied  it,  and  exhibited  a  handful  of  reals  to  his 
astonished  eyes.  "  I  believe,  my  little  hero,"  said  I, 
"  that  here  is  enough  to  pay  for  what  I  wish  to  buy 
of  you."  The  colour  was  soon  restored  to  his  cheeks 
at  this  sight ;  he  immediately  left  off  eating,  and  ran 
to  fetch  his  bundle,  saying  that  all  he  had  was  at  my 
service.  At  the  same  time  he  was  proceeding  to 
show  me  his  best  suits,  but  this  I  would  not  permit 
until  we  had  finished  our  meal.  His  hopes  seemed 
to  serve  as  a  fresh  sauce  to  his  appetite,  and  he  fell 
to  again  as  though  he  could  not  do  sufficient  honour 
to  my  breakfast;  he  could  scarcely  contain  the  joy 
that  he  felt. 

That  he  might  not  form  an  ill  opinion  of  me  on 
account  of  my  appearance,  and  to  prevent  his  suspect- 
ing that  the  money  which  he  had  just  seen  was  ill 
got,  I  addressed  him  to  this  effect :  "  Whatever  you 
may  take  me  for,"  said  I,  "  be  assured  that  I  am  in 
reality  as  well  born  as  yourself.  This  I  have  thought 
fit  to  inform  you,  that  you  mav  learn  not  always  to 
judge  of  people  by  their  looks.  When  I  left  Burgos 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  b'ALFARACHE.     301 

I  had  as  good  clothes  as  you,  but  I  sold  them  in  the 
first  village  I  passed  through,  to  relieve  myself  of  so 
inconvenient  a  burden,  and  contented  myself  with 
these  tattered  garments,  which  would  excite  the  pity, 
or  at  the  worst  the  compassion,  of  thieves,  whom  a 
better  dress  would  probably  have  tempted.  If  I  had 
not  taken  this  precaution  I  should  have  been  robbed 
a  hundred  times  ere  this,  and  be  at  this  moment 
without  a  single  maravedi  in  my  pocket.  As,  how- 
ever, it  is  my  intention  to  stop  at  Toledo  for  some 
time  on  my  way  to  Cordova,  I  have  now  immediate 
occasion  for  a  good  suit  of  clothes ;  and  if  you  have 
any  that  will  fit  me,  I  am  ready  to  be  a  purchaser." 

The  Toledan,  burning  with  impatience  to  com- 
mence business,  with  his  mouth  still  full,  began  to 
spread  out  on  the  grass  a  complete  suit,  the  cloak  of 
which  was  of  most  excellent  cloth  of  a  light  grey 
colour,  together  with  two  fine  shirts,  and  a  pair  of 
silk  stockings.  I  tried  them  all  on,  and  they  fitted 
me  exactly.  This  the  young  man  did  not  fail  to  tell 
me,  to  make  me  have  the  better  opinion  of  them. 
He  seemed  apprehensive  that  my  money  would  slip 
through  his  fingers,  or  that  I  should  change  my  mind. 
He  need  have  been  under  no  such  fear,  for  I  was  as 
anxious  to  buy  as  he  was  to  sell,  so  that  our  bargain 
was  soon  struck.  He  asked  me  a  hundred  reals,  and 
I  agreed  to  give  him  this  price  upon  condition  that 
he  would  truck  his  clothes-bag  with  me  for  my 
hamper.  This  he  consented  to,  and  I  put  my 
money  into  it,  with  the  two  shirts  and  silk  stockings. 
My  new  clothes  I  still  wore ;  and  I  hung  up  the  old 


302  MATEO  ALEMAX. 

suit  and  the  rest  of  my  rags  on  a  tree,  as  a  trophy  of 
my  success  in  beggary.  The  Toledan,  on  his  side, 
filled  the  hamper  with  his  goods  and  the  victuals 
that  were  left.  During  all  this  time  the  sun  was 
insensibly  going  down,  and  the  hour  of  parting  hav- 
ing arrived,  we  embraced  each  other  with  a  thousand 
professions  of  friendship ;  after  which  we  each  pur- 
sued our  particular  route,  both  well  satisfied  with 
our  bargain. 


CHAPTER   XV. 

GUZMAN  ARRIVES  AT  TOLEDO,  AND  ACTS  THE  MAN 
OF  FORTUNE  THERE.  SOME  ACCOUNT  OF  HIS  GAL- 
LANTRIES. 

IT  was  past  nine  o'clock  when  I  entered  the  famous 
city  of  Toledo.  I  combed  my  hair  and  put  myself  in 
order,  taking  particular  pains  to  rub  the  dust  off  my 
shoes  that  I  might  with  the  greater  assurance  be  able 
to  assert  that  I  came  in  a  coach.  I  requested  to  be 
directed  to  the  best  inn,  whither  I  repaired,  requiring 
my  supper  and  lodging  like  a  young  man  of  fortune, 
who  troubled  himself  but  little  about  expense.  As 
these  are  the  sort  of  customers  who  are  sure  to  be 
well  treated  at  inns,  I  was  immediately  shown  into 
an  excellent  chamber  with  a  good  bed  in  it,  and 
waited  upon  like  any  prince.  I  supped  perfectly  to 
my  satisfaction,  and  slept  better  than  I  supped. 
The  next  morning,  after  having  taken  my  choco- 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      303 

late,  which  I  called  for  in  order  to  impress  them 
with  an  opinion  of  my  quality,  I  desired  them  to 
send  for  a  hatter,  a  shoemaker,  and  a  swordmaker, 
for  it  was  indispensable  for  me  to  have  a  new  hat, 
sword,  and  shoes,  to  correspond  with  the  rest  of  my 
equipage.  But  the  most  essential  thing  of  all  was  to 
procure  a  tailor  to  disguise  the  suit  I  had  bought  as 
much  as  possible,  lest  when  I  went  abroad  I  might 
happen  to  meet  some  of  the  relations  of  the  young 
man  of  whom  I  had  purchased  it,  which  might  have 
raised  suspicions  dangerous  to  me  in  my  present 
situation.  I  might  very  reasonably  have  supposed 
that  they  would  know  it  again,  and  perhaps  accuse 
me  of  having  stolen  it  and  assassinated  the  young 
man.  Justice  would  then  have  interfered,  and  this  I 
had  more  reasons  than  one  to  dread.  I  sent  there- 
fore for  a  tailor,  who  in  a  few  hours  so  completely 
disguised  the  suit,  by  covering  the  sleeves  with  taffeta, 
changing  the  buttons,  and  putting  a  velvet  collar  on 
the  cloak,  that  the  devil  himself  could  scarcely  have 
known  it  again. 

I  paid  my  tailor  handsomely ;  and  well  pleased  that 
I  could  now  venture  out  without  the  dread  of  getting 
into  difficulty  on  account  of  my  dress,  I  took  a 
walk  towards  the  evening  in  the  Zocodover,  where  the 
fashionables  usually  promenade.  Metamorphosed  as 
I  was,  I  was  not  altogether  free  from  apprehension  of 
meeting  some  one  who  might  recognise  me.  This 
fear,  however,  did  not  prevent  my  feeling  gratified  in 
observing  that  I  was  pa.  ticularly  noticed  by  the  pret- 
tiest women  of  slender  virtue,  who,  looking  upon  me 


304  MATED  ALEMAN. 

as  a  handsome  well-shaped  young  fellow  who  had 
never  yet  been  to  Cythera,  appeared  most  anxious  to 
have  the  honour  of  setting  me  in  the  right  road  ;  but 
I  had  resolution  enough  to  resist  all  their  seducing 
glances. 

What  most  surprised  me  was  the  extreme  neat- 
ness of  all  the  gentlemen.  My  dress,  notwithstanding 
all  the  tailor's  endeavours  to  adjust  and  beautify  it, 
appeared  so  shabby  in  comparison  with  those  around 
me  that  I  resolved  on  having  another.  Just  at  this 
moment  a  gentleman  mounted  on  a  beautiful  mule 
crossed  the  Zocodover  in  so  handsome  and  stylish  a 
dress  that  I  determined  to  get  one  exactly  similar 
made  for  myself.  I  could  scarcely  refrain  from  send- 
ing for  my  tailor  that  very  night.  I  managed  how- 
ever to  wait  till  morning,  though  I  never  closed 
my  eyes  the  whole  of  the  night,  so  completely  was  I 
amused  and  delighted  in  considering  how  handsome 
I  should  look  in  these  new  trappings.  But  when  I 
reflected  on  the  probable  expense  of  them,  I  began 
to  hesitate,  notwithstanding  the  eager  desire  I  felt  to 
appear  in  them. 

"  Well,  Signor  Guzman,"  said  I  to  myself,  "  you 
presume  then  to  dress  magnificently,  and  to  supplant 
all  the  gallants  at  Toledo!  well  done,  courage,  my 
friend.  Spend  your  reals  without  reflecting  on  the 
deep  game  you  have  played  to  possess  yourself  of 
them.  That  is  not  worthy  of  your  consideration ; 
all  you  seem  to  wish  is  to  get  rid  of  your  money, 
and  you  will  find  it  go  quick  enough.  Let  a  suit  be 
made  agreeable  to  your  fancy,  and  begin  courting  the 


THE  LJ%E  OP  GUZMAN  tfALFARACHE.     305 

ladies,  and  you  will  soon  come  to  your  basket  again. 
Rely  upon  this;  but  do  not  think  that  you  can  every 
day  meet  with  apothecaries  who  will  allow  themselves 
to  be  purged  like  your  friend  at  Madrid." 

All  these  wise  reflections  presented  themselves,  but 
without  effect;  for  no  sooner  was  it  daylight  than  I 
sent  for  my  tailor,  to  whom  I  gave  the  order,  after 
having  given  him  an  exact  description  of  the  dress 
I  had  seen.  He  promised  to  make  me  one  exactly 
similar,  undertaking  to  go  himself  and  purchase  the 
materials,  and  assuring  me  that  I  should  have  it  as 
soon  as  possible;  for  I  required  him  to  be  as  expe- 
ditious and  punctual  as  though  I  were  going  to  bt 
married  and  only  waited  for  my  wedding  clothes. 
He  accordingly  sent  it  home  two  days  after,  and  1 
had  never  seen  anything  more  stylish  and  elegant, 
the  gold  glittered  all  over  it.  When  I  put  it  on  I 
was  in  raptures  at  my  handsome  appearance  and  the 
beauty  of  my  figure,  which  was  already  perfectly 
well  formed,  though  scarcely  fifteen  years  of  age.  I 
thought  that  I  was  the  very  image  of  my  father 
when  he  was  young,  having  a  delicate  white  and 
red  complexion  like  him,  with  light-brown  hair.  I 
should  never  have  been  tired  of  looking  in  the  glass, 
though  I  felt  most  anxious  to  go  abroad  again  to 
be  admired  in  the  city.  No  one  who  was  not  so 
eminently  pleased  with  his  own  figure  as  I  was 
could  have  been  fool  enough  to  have  satisfied  my 
tailor  without  disputing  his  bill,  which  I  might  most 
conscientiously  have  reduced  two-thirds;  but  I  did 
not  then  think  that  I  could  possibly  pay  too  much 

VOL.  I.  U 


30t  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

for  so  tasteful  an  equipage.  Mine  hostess,  seeing  me 
superbly  dressed,  told  me  I  ought  at  least  to  have  a 
lackey.  I  immediately  engaged  one  therefore  that 
looked  like  a  page,  for  whom  I  was  obliged  to  find 
new  clothes,  to  be  worthy  of  a  master  of  my 
importance. 

The  first  Sunday  I  failed  not  to  attend  the  great 
church,  followed  by  my  lackey,  to  whom  I  had  given 
proper  instructions  that  he  might  do  me  honour. 
The  congregation  was  of  the  first  quality  in  the 
city ;  I  thrust  myself  in  the  midst  of  them  with  a 
vast  deal  of  assurance,  and  visited  all  the  chapels  one 
after  another,  which  caused  many  to  think  that  I  had 
some  design  in  my  head ;  it  was,  however,  only  to 
show  myself  off. 

I  placed  myself  between  the  two  choirs,  having 
observed  that  the  principal  ladies  were  always  in  this 
part  of  the  church.  It  was  here  that  I  displayed  all 
the  fine  airs  I  had  seen  practised  by  other  young  fools 
at  Madrid,  and  which  I  had  performed  at  least  twenty 
times  over  in  the  morning  at  my  glass.  The  first 
thing  I  did  was  to  choose  a  spot  where  I  could  be 
seen  from  head  to  foot.  Then  I  thrust  out  my 
breast,  and  stood  firm  upon  one  leg,  while  I  extended 
the  other  in  so  stiff  a  position  that  it  scarcely  touched 
the  ground,  showing  by  this  means  my  fine  stock- 
ings, and  that  I  wore  garters  of  the  German  fashion 
which  were  then  in  vogue.  As  this  posture  cramped 
me  extremely  I  was  obliged  to  vary  it  every  minute, 
making  divers  grimaces  at  the  ladies  who  looked  at 
me.  I  smiled  upon  one,  looked  coldly  upon  another, 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.     307 

with  languishing  eyes  upon  a  third,  and  with  spark- 
ling eyes  upon  a  fourth.  In  short,  I  so  far  over- 
acted my  part  that  all  the  ladies  and  gentlemen 
who  observed  my  manoeuvres  began  to  titter  at  my 
expense.  This  I  took  no  kind  of  notice  of,  for  I 
had  too  good  an  opinion  of  myself  to  imagine  they 
could  find  anything  ridiculous  in  my  behaviour. 

All  the  ladies,  however,  were  not  disposed  to  lau^'h 
at  my  extravagant  airs,  there  were  even  some  among 
them  completely  charmed  by  my  manners;  for,  with- 
out any  offence  to  women  in  general,  it  may  un- 
doubtedly be  asserted  that  there  are  always  many  of 
that  sex  for  whom  the  most  impertinent  coxcomb  is 
as  exactly  a  match  as  if  he  had  been  made  on  purpose. 
Amongst  others,  T  had  the  happiness  to  please  two 
beautiful  women,  who  could  not  refrain  from  letting 
me  know  it.  The  passion  of  the  one  was  created  by 
my  looks  and  'grimaces;  but  as  to  the  favourable 
sentiments  of  the  other  I  could  attribute  them  only 
to  my  stars.  The  first  of  my  two  conquests  was  a 
lively-looking  woman,  who  had  something  roguish 
in  her  eye,  and  a  pleasing  face.  I  ogled  her  like  a 
novice,  and  she  seemed  by  no  means  displeased,  for 
women  always  prefer  apprentices  in  this  art  to  their 
masters.  She  returned  my  tender  glances,  which 
encouraged  me  to  follow  her  after  Mass,  that  I  might 
know  where  she  lived.  She  walked  very  slowly,  to 
show  me  that  it  would  not  be  her  fault  if  I  let  her 
escape,  and  I  soon  came  up  with  her,  and  now  and 
then,  as  I  walked  behind  her,  whispered  some  soft 
things  to  her  as  well  as  I  was  able  at  my  age.  She 


5o8  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

made  no  reply,  yet  now  and  then  turned  her  head 
round,  looking  at  me  in  such  a  manner  as  persuaded 
me  that  she  dared  not  speak  for  fear  of  the  duenna 
by  whom  she  was  accompanied. 

We  at  length  came  to  a  narrow  street,  near  St. 
Cyprian's  Church,  where  she  lived.  In  entering  her 
house  she  bowed  her  head  to  me  to  let  me  see  that 
she  was  not  displeased  at  my  having  followed  her,  and 
did  not  forget  to  dart  an  amorous  look  at  me  which 
filled  me  with  love  and  hope.  I  took  particular 
notice  of  her  house,  intending  to  return  without  fail 
that  very  day  to  show  myself  before  her  windows. 
T  then  took  the  way  towards  my  inn  again  with  hasty 
steps. 

I  no  sooner  got  into  another  street  than  a  sort  of 
waiting-woman  with  a  long  thicl^  veil  thrown  over 
her,  accosted  me  as  I  passed  along.  "  Signor  Cavalier," 
said  she,  "  I  beseech  t you  to  follow  me;  I  wish  to 
communicate  something  of  consequence  to  you." 
I  did  not  hesitate  a  moment,  but  followed  her  until 
we  both  stopped  under  a  large  open  gateway,  when, 
seeing  that  nobody  could  hear  us,  she  addressed  me 
thus :  "  Charming  stranger,  your  appearance  is  so 
handsome  and  prepossessing  that  you  will  not  be 
surprised  when  I  tell  you  that  a  lady  of  quality,  who 
has  seen  you  at  church,  is  quite  enchanted  and  capti- 
vated by  your  elegant  person,  and  wishes  to  have  a 
private  conversation  with  you.  This  lady  is  newly 
married,  and  so  beautiful  that  .  .  .  but,"  added  she, 
breaking  off  suddenly,  "I  will  say  no  more;  I  must 
let  you  form  your  own  opinion  when  you  see  her." 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.    309 

T  swallowed  this  bait  most  greedily,  and  could 
scarcely  restrain  the  pleasure  that  I  felt.  Affecting, 
however,  to  appear  modest,  I  answered  that  I  knew 
not  in  what  terms  to  acknowledge  the  honour  that 
her  mistress  had  conferred  on  me;  that  I  did  not 
doubt  she  was  a  person  of  the  first  quality,  and  that, 
therefore,  I  was  most  anxious  to  wait  upon  her  and 
throw  myself  at  her  feet  to  thank  her  for  her  good 
opinion  of  me. 

"  Signer,"  said  the  confidante,  "it  will  be  dangerous 
to  think  of  seeing  her  at  her  own  house,  for  she  has 
a  jealous  husband ;  but  tell  me  where  you  lodge,  and 
I  will  engage  that  to-morrow  morning  at  farthest 
you  shall  have  an  interview  with  her  in  your  own 
apartments." 

I  gave  her  my  address,  and  she  immediately  de- 
parted to  rejoin  her  mistress,  who,  she  said,  was 
waiting  impatiently  to  know  whether  she  had  reason 
to  thank  Dame  Fortune  or  to  reproach  her. 

I  now  found  myself  engaged  in  two  love  intrigues; 
but  I  felt  most  inclined  towards  the  first,  not  that  I 
was  displeased  with  the  second,  for  it  was  most  flatter- 
ing to  my  vanity.  "  What  an  advantage  it  is," 
thought  I,  "  to  be  handsome  !  No  sooner  have  I  made 
my  appearance  at  Toledo  than  two  ladies,  apparently 
of  the  first  quality,  are  already  in  love  with  me. 
What  must  be  the  consequence,  then,  if  I  stay  here 
long?  I  shall  undoubtedly  captivate  all  the  women 
in  the  city."  I  returned  to  my  inn  full  of  these 
pleasing  thoughts,  which,  however,  did  not  prevent 
my  eating  a  very  hearty  dinner,  after  which  I  sallied 


3io  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

out  again,  as  soon  as  T  was  able  without  being  incom- 
moded by  the  heat  of  the  sun,  and  flew  towards  St. 
Cyprian,  where  I  paced  up  and  down  before  the 
windows  of  the  house  into  which  my  first  mistress 
had  entered.  Not  so  much  as  the  shadov;  of  a 
woman,  however,  was  to  be  seen ;  notwithstanding 
which  I  loitered  about  until  it  was  quite  evening,  and 
my  perseverance  was  at  length  regarded.  I  saw  one 
of  the  lower  windows  half  opened,  which  I  approached, 
and  in  a  nymph,  who  presented  herself  to  my  eyes  in 
an  undress,  I  recognised  my  princess,  who  told  me, 
with  considerable  agitation,  that  her  neighbours,  who 
were  a  tattling  set,  would  suspect  something,  and 
besought  me  to  remain  no  longer  in  the  street,  but 
to  retire  for  some  time,  and  return  in  about  two 
hours;  that  there  would  be  nobody  in  the  house  but 
herself  and  servants,  and  that  if  I  pleased  we  might 
then  sup  together.  I  was  overjoyed  at  this  invitation, 
which  I  accepted  by  kissing  one  of  her  hands  with  an 
air  of  tenderness,  and  at  the  same  requested  that  I 
might  be  permitted  to  contribute  my  dish  towards  the 
supper.  "  That  is  by  no  means  necessary,"  answered 
the  lady ;  "  but  as  what  I  have  in  the  house  may 
possibly  not  be  to  your  liking,  you  can  do  as  you 
please  in  that  respect." 

As  soon  as  we  had  settled  these  preliminaries  I 
departed,  for  fear  of  attracting  the  attention  of  the 
neighbours,  and  thereby  destroying  the  happiness  in 
store  for  me,  and  rejoined  my  page,  whom  I  had 
ordered  to  wait  for  me  at  the  top  of  the  street,  and 
gave  him  some  money,  desiring  him  to  procure  me 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.     311 

a  fine  pullet  nicely  dressed,  two  partridges,  a  rabbit 
pie,  four  bottles  of  excellent  wine,  and  some  of  the 
choicest  fruits.  All  this  was  ready  and  sent  at  nine 
o'clock  precisely,  and  I  soon  followed,  was  received 
by  my  nymph  in  the  kindest  manner,  and  conducted 
by  her  into  a  neat  chamber,  where  she  usually  slept, 
with  a  handsome  bed  in  it,  and  I  could  not  help 
observing,  under  a  sort  of  pavilion  made  with  rose- 
coloured  taffeta,  a  large  tub.  in  which  I  supposed  the 
signora  occasionally  bathed  herself.  The  table  was 
spread  here,  and  the  sideboard  decorated  with  my 
bottles  and  fruits.  I  was  well  pleased  at  the  sight  of 
these  preparations,  which  seemed  to  promise  me  an 
agreeable  evening,  and  could  only  have  wished  that 
my  lovely  hostess  had  been  in  better  spirits,  for,  in 
spite  of  her  endeavours  to  affect  gaiety,  I  plainly  per- 
ceived that  she  was  uneasy  from  some  cause  unknown 
to  me. 

"  My  charmer,"  said  I,  "  allow  me  to  ask  the  cause 
of  that  sadness  which  is  so  evidently  depicted  on  your 
countenance,  and  which  it  is  in  vain  for  you  to 
endeavour  to  conceal." 

"  Fair  stranger,"  answered  she,  sighing,  "  since  I 
have  not  been  able  to  conceal  my  mortification  from 
you,  I  confess  that  I  am  much  vexed  at  some  unseason- 
able news  I  have  just  received.  My  brother,  on  whom 
I  am  entirely  dependent,  who  has  been  to  Court  to 
solicit  preferment,  has  just  returned  to  Toledo;  I 
would  have  given  you  notice  of  this  before  had  I 
known  where  to  send  to  you ;  nevertheless,"  added 
she,  "  as  he  is  now  gone  to  sup  with  a  lady  of 


312  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

whom  he  is  enamoured,  I  do  not  expect  him  home 
before  midnight.  We  may,  at  least,  have  the  satis- 
faction of  supping  and  conversing  together;  and  I 
have  the  consolation  to  add  that  he  will  return  to 
Madrid  in  a  day  or  two,  to  stay  there  three  months. 
I  should  otherwise  be  inconsolable  at  his  arrival,  for 
he  is  a  man  of  the  most  violent  temper,  and  most 
punctilious  in  aflairs  of  honour.  You  cannot  con- 
ceive what  a  prisoner  I  am  when  he  is  at  home,  but, 
thank  God,  we  shall  soon  be  free  from  him  for  some 
time  to  come." 

This  discourse  of  hers  somewhat  moderated  my 
joy ;  the  unforeseen  return  of  a  brother,  and  one  of 
his  disposition,  appeared  no  laughing  matter  to  me. 
I  felt  very  far  from  comfortable,  and,  to  speak  truth, 
was  sorry  that  I  had  not  had  notice  of  it  before ;  for 
although  I  was  not  one  of  the  greatest  cowards,  yet  I 
had  much  rather  have  been  obliged  to  fight  in  a  street 
than  in  a  house,  where  I  must  of  necessity  defend  my- 
self or  lose  my  ears.  As,  however,  the  evil  was  now 
without  remedy,  I  considered  myself  called  upon  to 
show  my  courage  and  resolution.  I  entreated  the  lady, 
therefore,  to  have  the  supper  served  up  at  all  events, 
adding,  with  an  air  of  intrepidity,  that  if  her  brother 
came  in  and  interrupted  us  he  might  choose  what  pro- 
ceeding he  pleased,  but  whichever  he  adopted  towards 
me  he  should  find  that  he  had  to  do  with  one  who 
would  be  at  least  his  match.  The  supper  was  then 
brought  in  and  we  sat  down  together,  but  at  that 
instant  we  heard  a  loud  knock  at  the  door. 

"  0  Heavens ! "  cried  she,  rising  from  her  seat  as 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.     313 

though  she  was  ruined ;  "  that  must  be  my  brother — 
what  w'!l  become  of  me  ?  " 

You  will  perhaps  imagine  that,  to  support  the 
bravery  of  which  I  had  just  boasted,  I  prepared 
courageously  to  receive  the  disturber  of  our  pleasures 
as  I  had  resolved;  but,  on  the  contrary,  I  was  so 
surprised  and  terrified  at  his  return  that  I  thought  of 
nothing  but  preserving  myself  from  his  fury,  and  was 
going  to  creep  under  the  bed;  but  the  sister,  con- 
sidering that  I  should  be  safer  in  the  tub,  thrust  me 
into  it  and  covered  me  with  a  carpet.  Unfortunately 
for  my  laced  coat  this  tub  was  wet  and  dirty,  inde- 
pendently of  which  I  was  much  cramped  and  very 
far  from  being  at  my  ease  in  it. 

In  the  meantime  the  door  was  opened  to  this 
cursed  brother,  who  had  no  sooner  entered  the 
chamber  than,  astonished  or  pretending  to  be  so  at 
finding  the  table  and  sideboard  so  well  set  out,  he 
remained  for  some  moments  without  speaking  a 
word,  but  at  length,  breaking  silence : 

"  What  means  all  this  preparation,  sister  ? "  said 
he  in  an  imperative  tone;  "have  either  of  us  been 
married  to-day,  or  for  whom  is  this  entertainment 
meant  ? " 

"  For  you  only,  whom  I  have  been  anxiously  ex- 
pecting," replied  the  trembling  nymph. 

"  It  is  something  new,"  continued  he,  "  to  treat 
me  with  this  ceremony.  You  cannot  pretend  that 
it  was  to  celebrate  my  return  from  Madrid,  for  I  sent 
you  word  that  I  should  sup  in  the  city." 

"  True,"  replied  the  lady,  "  but  you  well  know  that 


3*4 


MATEO  ALE  MAN. 


you  have  often  come  and  surprised  me  after  having 
told  me  the  same  thing ;  and,  if  you  recollect,  you 
have  sometimes  been  angry  that  I  have  not  prepared 
a  supper  for  you." 

"  I  am  by  no  means  satisfied,"  replied  the  brother, 
"and  I  fear  much  that  our  neighbours'  slanders  are 
but  too  well  founded.  For  a  lady  of  quality  you  are 
not  sufficiently  circumspect  in  your  behaviour.  You 
are  well  aware  of  my  delicacy  on  that  point,  therefore 
be  cautious  of  taking  any  steps  which  may  wound  my 
feelings;  but,"  added  he,  "let  us  sit  down  to  supper. 
I  am  willing  for  this  evening  to  put  the  best  inter- 
pretation on  your  intentions." 

At  these  words  he  seated  himself  at  the  table,  and 
they  both  fell  to  upon  my  unfortunate  supper.  As 
for  him  he  kept  grumbling  all  the  while  he  was 
stuffing  at  my  expense,  and  his  sister  could  not  utter 
a  single  word  but  what  put  him  into  a  passion.  He 
cursed  and  swore,  and  whenever  she  ventured  to 
contradict  him  in  anything,  he  seemed  almost  mad 
with  rage,  called  her  every  vile  name  he  could  think 
of,  and  seemed  ready  to  knock  her  down.  Two  or 
three  times  in  the  course  of  their  repast  I  ventured 
to  lift  up  a  corner  of  the  carpet  with  which  I  was 
covered,  to  take  a  peep  at  this  terrible  fellow,  but  I 
was  so  afraid  that  he  would  see  me  that  I  dared  not 
take  a  full  view  of  him. 

Time  appeared  less  tedious  to  him  at  table  than  to 
me  in  the  tub,  and  I  could  not  possibly  conceive  how 
so  passionate  a  fellow  could  remain  so  long  patient 
even  in  eating.  He  amused  himself  in  this  manner, 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.     315 

however,  for  about  an  hour,  and  that  hour  appeared 
an  age  to  me.  He  drank  at  least  as  heartily  as  he 
ate,  and  emptied  three  of  my  bottles  in  the  course  of 
his  meal ;  and  when  the  table  was  cleared  he  called 
for  pipes  and  tobacco,  to  make  an  end,  as  he  said,  of 
the  fourth.  Upon  this  the  lady,  wishing  to  make 
me  believe  that  she  desired  to  get  rid  of  this  intruder, 
entreated  him  to  go  and  smoke  in  his  own  chamber, 
and  to  leave  her  at  liberty  to  undress  herself  and  go 
to  bed,  but  he  answered  rudely  that  she  might  retire 
whither  she  pleased,  but  that  for  his  own  part  he  felt 
very  comfortable  where  he  was,  and  intended  to  pass 
the  night  there. 

Hearing  this  last  resolution  I  now  completely 
gave  myself  up  for  lost;  for  I  had  flattered  myself 
that  the  least  this  abominable  intruder  could  do,  after 
having  stuffed  himself  in  this  style,  was  to  leave  the 
chamber  as  he  was  requested ;  and  that  I  should 
remain  alone  with  his  sister,  to  pick  the  bones  he 
was  kind  enough  to  leave.  I  even  hoped  that  the 
latter  part  of  the  night  might  prove  more  agreeable 
to  me  than  the  commencement,  but  I  did  not  long 
remain  under  this  nattering  delusion.  The  lady,  as 
though  she  partook  of  my  uneasiness,  endeavoured  to 
prevail  on  her  brother  to  change  his  mind,  but  not 
being  able  to  succeed  either  by  tears  or  entreaties, 
she  left  the  room  with  all  the  appearance  of  being 
much  distressed  on  my  account.  No  sooner  had  she 
gone  than  her  brother  began  to  behave  himself  as  if 
he  were  drunk  or  mad ;  sometimes  he  would  sit  very 
quietly  for  a  few  minutes,  then  jump  up  and  walk 


316  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

and  dance  about  the  room  with  his  pipe  in  his 
mouth ;  sometimes  he  would  snatch  up  his  sword 
and  fence  against  the  hangings,  whistling,  singing, 
and  talking  to  himself  all  the  while,  and  swearing 
like  a  Jew,  threatening  to  exterminate  any  man  who 
should  dare  even  so  much  as  look  at  him. 

After  having  passed  above  half  the  night  in  these 
extravagances,  he  at  last  threw  himself  at  full  length 
on  the  bed  without  undressing,  placing  his  sword  and 
pistols  within  his  reach  by  way  of  precaution. 

"  God  be  praised,"  said  I  to  myself,  "  it  will  not 
be  necessary,  now  that  he  is  on  the  bed,  to  rock  him 
to  sleep;  he  will  soon  begin  snoring  to  his  heart's 
content."  I  was,  however,  once  more  out  in  my 
reckoning,  the  wine  had  not  the  same  effect  upon 
him  that  it  has  upon  others ;  for,  instead  of  falling 
asleep,  he  did  nothing  but  dose  at  intervals  for  the 
space  of  about  two  hours,  starting  up  every  moment 
and  crying  out,  "  Who's  there  ?  "  as  if  he  heard  some 
noise  in  the  chamber.  The  only  noise  that  I  made, 
however,  in  my  tub  was  in  lifting  up  a  corner  of  the 
tapestry  to  hear  whether  he  slept  or  not,  which,  in 
my  impatience  to  quit  this  cursed  house,  I  certainly 
did  pretty  frequently.  Heaven  at  last  took  pity  on 
me.  This  boisterous  hero  at  about  daybreak  fell  a- 
snoring  most  lustily,  and  I  then  slipped  from  under 
my  tub  as  quietly  as  possible,  determined  to  run  all 
risks  rather  than  remain  any  longer,  and  reached  the 
chamber  door  on  tiptoe,  with  my  shoes  in  my  hand. 
I  raised  the  latch  very  gently,  and  made  haste  to- 
wards the  street-door,  and  being  so  fortunate  as  to 


TUB  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  &ALFARACHE.    317 

find  the  key  hanging  up  by  it,  I  opened  the  door, 
and  ran  all  the  way  home  to  our  inn. 

Here  1  found  that  nobody  was  yet  stirring,  not 
even  my  page,  who,  thinking  that  I  should  of  course 
pass  the  night  in  the  arms  of  love,  had  gone  to  bed 
very  coolly,  without  giving  himself  any  concern 
about  me.  As  I  was  not  willing  to  disturb  anybody, 
I  walked  into  a  pastry-cook's  shop  in  the  neighbour- 
hood, that  was  just  opening,  and,  telling  the  master 
that  I  was  dying  with  hunger,  requested  he  would 
provide  me  with  something  to  eat.  He  answered 
that  he  had  now  in  his  oven  some  little  pastries  fit 
to  be  presented  to  the  Archbishop  of  Toledo,  which 
would  soon  be  sufficiently  baked.  I  determined  not 
to  lose  this  treat,  and  while  I  waited  until  the 
pastries  were  drawn  from  the  oven  I  had  an  oppor- 
tunity of  reflecting  on  my  late  cruel  adventure,  and 
the  more  I  considered  it  the  more  lucky  did  T  esteem 
myself  in  having  got  off  so  cheaply. 

The  pastry-cook  had  not,  in  my  opinion,  boasted 
of  his  pastries  without  reason,  for  I  either  found  them 
excellent,  or  else  my  appetite  gave  them  an  exquisite 
taste,  which  they  probably  had  not.  When  I  left 
this  shop  it  was  quite  day ;  I  entered  our  inn  and 
hastened  to  my  chamber,  where  I  lay  down  on  my 
bed,  and  at  last  fell  into  a  sound  sleep,  after  having 
tumbled  abouf.  for  two  hours  without  being  able  to 
get  my  late  adventure  with  the  brother  and  sister, 
and  the  characters  which  they  had  so  well  supported, 
out  of  my  head. 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

GUZMAN  S   AMOURS   CONTINUED,    AND   IN   WHAT 
MANNER    THEY  ENDED. 

I  COULD  well  have  slept  until  very  late  in  the  morn- 
ine,  but  as  two  ladies  had  inquired  for  me  below, 
one  of  whom  was  so  richly  dressed  that  my  lackey 
was  quite  dazzled  by  her  magnificent  appearance,  he 
came  up  to  my  chamber  and  awoke  me  to  announce 
this  visit.  I  presently  guessed  this  must  be  the 
waiting-woman  whom  I  had  conversed  with  the  day 
before,  who  had  kept  her  promise  by  prevailing  on 
her  mistress  to  accompany  her  to  call  upon  me.  I 
had  no  sooner  desired  my  lackey  to  show  them  in, 
than  a  lady  of  handsome  mien  and  figure  entered  the 
room,  who  by  her  elegant  deportment  and  easy 
manners  could  not,  in  my  judgment,  be  less  than  a 
marchioness  or  countess.  She  seated  herself  in  a 
chair  at  my  bedside.  I  sat  up  in  my  bed  and  bowed 
to  her  as  respectfully  as  my  situation  would  admit  of, 
begging  her  to  excuse  me  for  receiving  her  in  this 
manner,  and  adding  that  I  had  much  rather  offend 
in  that  respect  than  allow  a  lady  of  her  quality  and 
merit  to  wait  a  moment  at  the  door. 

"  No  more  apologies,"  said  she,  "  but  let  us  come 
to  the  point  and  content  my  curiosity.  How  long- 
have  you  been  in  Toledo  ?  What  has  brought  you 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  &ALFARACHE.     319 

hither?       Shall    you    make    a    long    stay   in    this 
place  ? " 

These  questions,  unexpected  as  they  were,  were  by 
no  means  embarrassing  to  me,  for  I  had  a  most 
fruitful  invention  on  such  occasions.  I  therefore 
made  up  so  fine  a  story  of  my  birth  and  prospects  in 
life,  that  I  completely  succeeded  in  convincing  her  of 
my  high  quality.  One  truth,  however,  escaped  me 
in  the  course  of  conversation  which  spoiled  all  the 
effect  of  my  lies;  instead  of  saying  that  I  intended  to 
stay  at  least  three  or  four  months  at  Toledo,  I  told 
her  that  I  merely  visited  it  for  a  few  days'  diversion. 
I  instantly  perceived  that  this  was  not  exactly  agree- 
able to  her  hopes.  She  had  evidently  formed  some 
design  upon  me  which  these  words  disconcerted, 
and,  looking  upon  me  in  consequence  as  a  mere  bird 
of  passage,  whom  she  should  soon  lose  sight  of  for 
ever,  she  resolved  to  pluck  me  as  well  as  she  was  able 
before  we  parted. 

To  accomplish  her  object,  therefore,  the  first  thing 
she  did  was  to  throw  off  her  veil  in  an  easy  and  grace- 
ful manner,  discovering  a  face  of  perfect  beauty,  and 
taking  great  pains  to  display  her  delicate  white  hands 
and  a  part  of  her  neck.  She  then,  with  a  negligent  air, 
drew  from  her  pocket  a  fine  coral  rosary,  to  which 
were  attached  several  relics,  gold  crosses,  and  precious 
stones,  and,  without  appearing  to  have  any  design  in 
it,  kept  playing  with  this  rosary  all  the  while  she  was 
talking,  as  though  she  were  not  aware  of  what  she  was 
doing,  but  all  of  a  sudden  she  left  off  speaking  in  the 
middle  of  a  sentence,  looked  at  me  with  surprise,  and 


320  MATED  ALE  MAN. 

began  feeling  her  pockets  with  anxiety,  which  seemed 
to  increase  every  moment.  I  inquired  the  cause  of 
her  uneasiness,  but  instead  of  answering  me  she  began 
to  look  on  the  floor  and  everywhere  that  she  could 
think  of;  then  calling  her  servant  who  was  in  wait- 
ing at  the  chamber  door:  "  Marr.ia,"  said  she,  "I 
have  lost  the  great  cross  belonging  to  the  chaplet 
which  my  husband  gave  me;  how  unfortunate  I 
am ;  he  will  certainly  think  I  have  made  a  present  of 
it  to  some  one." 

"  Madam,"  replied  the  waiting-woman,  "  you  are 
perhaps  premature  in  your  sorrow.  You  may  pos- 
sibly have  left  it  at  home,  and  I  even  fancy  that  I 
recollect  to  have  seen  it  in  one  of  your  drawers." 

"  I  can  never  rest  until  I  be  convinced  of  this," 
replied  the  lady ;  "  let  us  therefore  return  home 
immediately,  for  T  cannot  bear  to  remain  in  doubt 
on  such  a  subject." 

All  my  efforts  to  detain  her  were  unavailing, 
represented  to  her  that  there  might  be  found  many 
similar  rosaries  at  a  goldsmith's,  and  that  if  she 
would  allow  me  I  would  presume  to  send  her  one  as 
soon  as  possible;  but  she  would  not  accept  of  my 
offer,  requesting  me  in  an  engaging  manner  to  allow 
her  to  depart,  assuring  me  that,  whether  she  found 
her  cross  at  home  or  not,  she  would  not  fail  to  pay 
me  a  visit  the  next  day  at  the  same  hour.  Upon 
this  she  quitted  my  chamber,  leaving  me  well  pleased 
with  her  figure  and  much  grieved  at  her  precipitate 
departure. 

It  was  no  longer  possible  to  think  of  sleeping  after 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  V ALP AR ACHE.     321 

such  an  interview,  so  that  I  lay  and  reflected  on  my 
good  fortune,  and  the  pleasures  that  I  anticipated, 
until  it  was  time  for  dinner.  I  then  rose  and  dressed 
myself,  after  which  I  sat  down  to  a  small  table  and 
partook  of  a  variety  of  dishes  sufficient  for  six  per- 
sons. In  the  middle  of  my  repast  Marcia  returned, 
and  informed  me  with  a  mournful  countenance  that 
the  golden  cross  could  not  be  found ;  "  and  what  is 
still  more  vexatious,"  added  she,  "  my  mistress  accuses 
me  of  beinff  the  cause  of  this  misfortune,  and  I  must 
allow  that  I  was  rather  too  pressing  this  morning  to 
make  her  dress  herself  quickly  to  come  and  see  you.  I 
have  been  to  a  goldsmith's  out  of  curiosity  to  see  if  I 
could  not  find  a  cross  of  the  same  description,  and 
have  been  fortunate  enough  to  meet  with  one  that 
resembles  it  as  nearly  as  possible."  I  soon  under- 
stood her  meaning,  and,  wishing  to  be  thought  gener- 
ous, I  answered  that  if  she  would  wait  until  I  had 
dined  I  would  accompany  her  to  the  goldsmith's 
and  purchase  the  cross  which  she  had  seen.  As  this 
was  in  fact  the  sole  object  of  her  coming,  she  replied 
that  she  would  do  just  as  I  pleased,  then,  beginning 
to  praise  her  mistress,  she  told  me  all  that  was  charm- 
ing of  her. 

After  dinner  we  repaired  to  the  goldsmith's  to- 
gether and  purchased  the  aforesaid  cross,  which  I 
gave  to  Marcia,  requesting  her  to  tell  her  mistress 
that,  as  I  considered  myself  in  some  degree  the  cause 
of  her  loss,  it  was  my  duty  to  repair  it.  This  faithful 
servant,  overjoyed  at  her  good  success,  immediately 
departed,  after  having  assured  me  that  she  would 


322  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

make  her  lady  acquainted  with  my  generous  way  of 
proceeding,  and  that  she  was  sure  her  mistress  would 
not  fail  to  see  me  next  day,  personally,  to  return  thanks 
for  my  kindness. 

As  soon  as  Marcia  had  left  me  I  determined  to 
avail  myself  of  this  opportunity  to  see  my  lady  in  St. 
Cyprian  Street  again,  for  although  I  had  such  good 
reason  to  believe  that  she  was  a  cheat  and  her  brother 
a  bully,  yet  I  should  have  been  glad  to  have  found 
myself  mistaken ;  forgetting,  therefore,  the  scurvy 
trick  they  had  played  me  I  hastened  towards  their 
house,  and  perceived  my  charmer  at  a  window, 
whence  I  was  soon  remarked.  She  made  signs  to 
me  that  she  had  company,  but  that  I  was  not  to  go 
away;  I  stopped,  and  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour 
after  saw  her  go  out  alone.  I  followed  her  at  a 
distance,  and  observed  her  to  enter  the  great  church 
to  shorten  her  way  to  Patten  Street,  whence  she  went 
into  Mercer's  Street  and  entered  a  shop,  making 
signs  to  me  to  follow  her,  which  I  obeyed.  How 
admirably  did  she  then  play  her  part !  She  burst 
into  tears,  which,  I  suppose,  she  had  always  ready  at 
command,  and,  complaining  to  Heaven  that  she  had 
so  troublesome  a  brother,  she  assured  me  of  the  ex- 
treme pain  she  had  suffered  on  my  account,  swearing 
over  and  over  again  that  it  had  not  been  her  fault 
that  so  untoward  an  adventure  had  occurred  to  me; 
she  then  told  me  that  she  hoped  to  recompense  me 
for  my  late  unpleasant  night  by  assuring  me  of  a 
pleasant  one ;  that  her  brother  was  to  set  out  imme- 
diately for  the  country,  where  he  would  remain  for 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE,      323 

at  least  two  days,  and  she  trusted  therefore  that  I 
would  not  refuse  her  invitation  to  spend  that  evening 
'.vith  her.  She  then  spoke  to  me  with  so  much  ten- 
derness that  I  was  completely  convinced  of  her  sin- 
cerity, and  was  weak  enough  to  promise  to  see  her  at 
her  own  house  again  as  soon  as  it  was  dusk. 

As  she  had  entered  this  shop  she  could  not  make 
"  up  her  mind  to  leave  it  without  asking  the  prices  and 
cheapening  some  trifles,  as  is  customary  with  women, 
and  she  agreed  to  purchase  some  of  them  for  a  hun- 
dred and  fifty  reals;  but,  instead  of  paying  for  them, 
she  said  to  the  shopkeeper,  "  You  will  be  kind  enough 
to  allow  me  to  take  these  articles  with  me  now,  and 
give  me  credit  until  to-morrow,  when  I  will  send  my 
waiting-woman  to  pay  you."  The  shopkeeper,  who 
either  did  not  know  her  at  all,  or  possibly  was  but 
too  well  acquainted  with  her,  refused  to  trust  her, 
upon  which  Signor  Guzman,  always  ready  to  please 
the  ladies,  stepped  forward  and  said  to  him,  "  My 
srood  friend,  do  you  not  perceive  that  the  lady  is  only 
in  jest ;  she  has  not  this  sum  at  hand,  but  I  carry  her 
purse,  and  have  the  honour  to  be  her  steward,"  thus 
saying  I  drew  it  from  my  pocket  in  the  most  grace- 
ful manner  and  paid  the  shopkeeper  his  demand. 
After  this  we  parted.  "Adieu,  my  chicken,"  said  she, 
in  a  languishing  and  tender  manner;  "  remember  that 
I  shall  expect  to  see  you  at  nine  in  the  evening,  but 
I  absolutely  forbid  you  to  provide  any  supper,  for  I 
must  insist  on  being  allowed  to  treat  you  this  time." 
The  hour  of  rendezvous,  which  I  expected  with 
the  greatest  impatience,  having  at  length  arrived,  I 


324 


MATEO  ALEMAN. 


set  out  towards  my  charmer's  house,  at  the  risk  of 
passing  another  night  there  in  the  tub.  I  now 
approached  her  door  again  with  as  much  eagerness 
as  I  had  ran  from  it  in  the  morning.  I  made  the 
signal  we  had  agreed  upon,  but  no  answer.  I  re- 
peated it,  but  neither  saw  nor  heard  any  one.  I  then 
began  to  fancy  that  the  brother  had  been  informed 
of  his  sister's  design,  and  had  not  set  off  for  the 
country.  Thinking  it  possible,  however,  that  I  had 
not  given  the  signal  loud  enough,  which  was  to  knock 
with  a  stone  at  the  bottom  of  the  lower  window,  I 
redoubled  my  strokes,  but  I  might  as  well  have 
attempted  to  make  the  bridge  of  Alcantara  hear  me. 
I  then  knocked  several  times  at  the  door,  and  put  my 
ear  to  the  keyhole  to  listen,  but  finding  that  there 
was  not  the  least  noise  to  be  heard  in  the  house,  I 
remained  in  the  street  until  midnight,  quite  at  a  loss 
to  account  for  so  extraordinary  a  silence. 

My  patience,  however,  began  at  length  to  fail  me, 
and  I  was  just  on  the  point  of  returning  when  I 
observed  a  company  of  armed  men  coming  towards 
me,  and  took  the  precaution  to  retire  to  the  end 
of  the  street  that  I  might  notice  them  unobserved. 
They  stopped  at  the  door  of  my  nymph's  house  and 
rapped  loudly,  and  as  the  people  in  the  house  per- 
sisted in  not  answering  them  they  began  to  thunder 
at  the  door  with  their  staves,  and  would  soon  have 
shivered  it  to  atoms  if  a  servant  had  not  appeared  at 
one  of  the  windows  and  asked  what  was  their  business. 
"  Open,"  cried  an  alguazil ;  "  open  at  the  summons 
of  justice."  At  these  terrible  words  I  felt  so  alarmed 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.     325 

that  I  was  tempted  to  scamper  off  as  fast  as  my  legs 
would  carry  me,  not  knowing  but  it  was  for  me  they 
looked  :  a  culprit  cannot  behold  these  sort  of  people 
without  emotion.  My  courage  returned,  however, 
when  I  reflected  that  I  could  only  be  considered  the 
dupe  of  my  princess  and  her  pretended  brother,  whose 
laudable  conduct  had,  according  to  all  appearance, 
attracted  the  attention  of  justice. 

I  even  ventured  to  approach  the  house  as  soon  as 
the  alguazil  and  his  myrmidons  had  entered  it,  and 
joining  the  crowd  of  neighbours  who  had  collected  in 
the  street  to  see  what  was  going  on,  I  heard  one 
among  them  say  to  the  rest,  "  They  call  themselves 
brother  and  sister,  but  they  must  trace  their  pedigree 
from  Adam,  for  they  are  no  otherwise  related.  The 
man  is  an  adventurer  of  Cordova,  who  for  some 
months  past  has  lived  here  at  Toledo  with  this 
woman,  who  was  formerly  an  actress  at  Seville,  at 
the  expense  of  such  young  fools  as  fell  into  their 
hands ;  but,  unfortunately  for  these  two  honest  folks, 
they  have  been  practising  their  knaveries  upon  a 
scrivener,  who  has  played  them  this  trick  to  be 
avenged  on  them." 

At  this  relation  all  the  neighbours  laughed  heartily 
at  the  expense  of  the  scrivener,  whom  they  knew  to 
be  but  newly  married;  but  although  they  were  so 
glad  to  find  that  this  limb  of  the  law  had  been  duped, 
they  did  not  the  less  applaud  -his  vengeance  on  that 
account,  so  true  is  it  that  nobody  ever  pities  persons 
who  are  detected  in  dishonesty.  It  seemed  even  a. 
most  agreeable  comedy  for  the  witnesses  of  this 


325  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

adventure  when  they  saw  the  alguazil  and  his  officers 
leading  to  prison  the  lady  all  in  disorder,  accompanied 
by  her  gallant  well  bound  with  cords.  For  my  own 
part,  though  I  could  not  well  forget  her  scurvy  treat- 
ment of  me  in  the  tub,  yet  I  could  not  feel  any  plea- 
sure in  seeing  this  miserable  woman  in  her  present 
deplorable  situation ;  I  was  the  only  one  of  all  the 
spectators  who  felt  any  pity  for  her,  though  I  had 
most  reason  to  feel  none.  Rejoiced,  however,  that  I 
could  no  longer  be  her  dupe  I  returned  to  my  inn, 
fool  enough  still  to  flatter  myself  that  the  other  lady 
would  not  deceive  me,  but  I  waited  in  vain  the 
whole  of  the  next  day  at  home  for  her;  I  did  not 
even  S'--e  her  servant  again,  so  that,  being  no  longer 
able  to  doubt  that  I  was  also  gulled  in  that  quarter, 
I  resolved  that  in  future  I  would  be  more  upon  my 
guard  against  the  fair  sex. 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

GUZMAN  TAKES  A  FALSE  ALARM  AND  LEAVES  TOLEDO 
PRECIPITATELY.  ANOTHER  GALLANTRY.  ORIGIN 
OF  THE  PROVERB,  "AT  MALAGON,  A  THIEF  Iff 
EVERY  HOUSE,  BUT  IN  THAT  OF  THE  ALCAID  TIVO, 
THE  FATHER  AND  THE  SON." 

THUS  ended  my  gallantries  at  Toledo,  and,  to  com- 
plete my  misfortunes,  when  I  arrived  at  my  inn  I  met 
an  alguazil  there,  who,  I  was  informed,  had  just  Arrived 
from  Madrid  and  had  been  making  very  particular  in- 
quiries of  the  landlord  for  a  certain  quidam  of  whom 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      327 

he  was  in  search.  I  did  not  hear  this  without  uneasi- 
ness ;  nevertheless,  alarmed  as  I  was,  I  managed  to  put 
a  bold  face  on  the  matter,  but  I  was  so  agitated  the 
whole  of  the  night  that  I  could  not  get  a  wink  of 
sleep.  I  rose  early  the  next  morning,  still  thinking 
of  this  cursed  alguazil,  and  went  out  to  walk  in  the 
Zocodover.  I  had  not  gone  once  round  the  square 
before  I  heard  a  man  crying,  "  Two  mules  returning 
to  Almagro." 

I  determined  to  avail  myself  of  this  opportunity, 
and  resolved  in  a  moment  to  hire  these  two  mules,  as 
though  I  had  foreseen  that  I  should  find  a  company 
of  soldiers  at  Almagro  on  the  point  of  departure  for 
Italy.  I  spoke  to  the  crier  and  we  soon  agreed, 
after  which  I  sent  my  lackey  to  pay  my  landlord 
and  to  fetch  my  baggage,  which  consisted  of  a 
portmanteau  in  which  was  my  fashionable  dress, 
some  fine  linen,  and  what  remained  of  my  money. 
As  soon  as  he  rejoined  me  I  gave  him  one  of  the 
mules,  mounted  myself  on  the  other,  and,  rejoiced  at 
having  found  so  favourable  an  opportunity  of  leaving 
Toledo,  where  I  could  no  longer  remain  in  peace,  I 
took  the  route  towards  Orgas,  where  I  slept  that 
night. 

At  the  inn  where  we  stopped  there  chanced  to  be 
a  very  pretty  servant-maid,  who,  from  her  wit  and 
obliging  manners,  seemed  so  superior  to  her  condition 
that  I  commenced  a  conversation  with  her,  in  the 
course  of  which  I  could  not  refrain  from  plainly 
expressing  the  amorous  desires  I  felt  towards  her. 
So  far  from  being  startled  at  this  declaration,  she 


328  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

anticipated  my  wishes,  and  went  so  far  as  to  promise 
that  she  would  steal  into  my  chamber  in  the  night. 
"  But,  my  darling,"  said  I,  "  can  I  be  sure  that 
you  will  not  deceive  me?  Can  I  rely  upon  this 
promise  ?  " 

"  Certainly,"  answered  she ;  "  you  are  too  hand- 
some a  young  gentleman  for  me  to  wish  to  impose 
on ;  rely  on  it  I  will  keep  my  word." 

I  slept  that  night  in  a  chamber  in  which  there 
were  some  oats  kept,  the  door  of  which  I  took  care 
to  leave  open,  that  my  damsel  might  come  in  at 
what  hour  she  pleased.  I  fell  asleep  while  I  lay 
waiting  for  her,  though  it  is  not  very  usual  to  think 
of  sleeping  on  such  occasions ;  but  the  uneasiness 
caused  by  the  alguazil  the  preceding  night  not  hav- 
insr  permitted  me  to  take  any  repose,  I  felt  more 
inclined  to  rest  than  to  make  love.  I  was  soon 
awoke,  however,  by  hearing  a  slight  noise  in  the 
room,  which  I  did  not  doubt  was  my  fair  one,  and, 
anxious  to  receive  her  with  the  attention  that  her 
punctual  observance  of  her  promise  seemed  to  deserve, 
"Approach,  my  charmer,"  said  I.  in  a  low  voice, 
"  I  have  been  waiting  impatiently  for  you."  No 
one  answered.  I  thought  the  jade  behaved  thus  to 
provoke  my  desires  the  more,  and  with  this  con- 
viction I  leant  half  my  body  out  of  bed,  and 
stretched  out  my  arms  to  seize  her,  and  my  hands 
lighted  on  something  exceedingly  soft,  but  of  such 
a  softness  as  revolted  against  my  ideas.  In  fact  it 
was  the  ear  of  an  ass,  who  had  left  his  stable  and 
entered  my  chamber,  attracted  by  the  smell  of  the 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      329 

oats  that  were  kept  there.  This  animal,  whose  head 
was  almost  as  low  as  the  floor  when  I  touched  him, 
raised  it  on  a  sudden,  as  a  punishment  for  my  sins, 
and  gave  me  so  violent  a  blow  011  the  chin  that  it 
loosened  all  my  teeth  and  filled  my  mouth  with 
blood.  I  rose  from  my  bed  swearing,  and  with  the 
intention  of  running  my  sword  through  this  accursed 
beast,  who,  fortunately  however  for  him,  was 
frightened  at  the  noise  I  made  and  took  to  his  heels. 
I  was  content  therefore  to  lie  down  again,  with 
curses  against  love,  and  renewing  the  oath  I  had 
already  made  to  be  more  cautious  of  its  snares. 

A  few  moments  before  daylight  I  was  just  begin- 
ning to  dose  again,  when  the  muleteer  entered  my 
chamber  to  give  me  notice  that  breakfast  was  ready, 
and  that  if  I  wished  to  reach  Malagon  at  any  reason- 
able hour  that  day  I  had  no  time  to  lose.  I  was 
soon  up  and  dressed,  and  after  having  eaten  a  good 
breakfast  of  what  the  host  chose  to  provide  for  me, 
I  was  just  going  to  mount  my  mule  when  she 
directed  a  violent  kick  at  me,  which  would  certainly 
have  crippled  me  for  the  remainder  of  my  days  had  I 
been  at  a  greater  distance,  but  I  was  luckily  so  close 
to  the  plaguy  beast  that  she  could  not  do  me  much 
harm.  "The  devil  take  all  females!"  cried  I;  "I 
was  born  to  be  ill-treated  by  them."  To  divert  the 
companions  of  my  journey,  and  to  amuse  myself,  I 
related  to  them  on  the  road  the  particulars  of  my 
late  adventure  with  the  ass.  This  recital  seemed 
particularly  diverting  and  interesting  to  the  mule- 
teer, who  told  us,  after  having  laughed  his  bellyful, 


330  .  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

that  Luzia,  which  was  the  servant's  name,  had  been 
more  faithful  to  him,  that  she  had  passed  the  greater 
part  of  the  night  with  him  ;  and  he  gave  me  this  piece 
of  information  for  my  guidance  in  future,  that  the 
servants  in  inns  were  always  considered  the  right  of 
the  muleteers,  as  a  recompense  for  the  service  they 
do  the  landlord  in  bringing  travellers  to  his  house. 

We  arrived  at  Malagon  at  night,  whence  I  set  out 
again  the  next  day,  without  any  other  scurvy  trick 
of  fortune  except  having  lost  one  bottle  of  wine, 
which  I  missed  when  we  had  got  about  three  or  four 
leagues  from  the  town.  "  As  I  live,"  quoth  I,  "  this 
theft  brings  to  my  recollection  and  verifies  the  old 
proverb  which  declares,  that  in  Malagon  there  is  a 
thief  in  every  house,  but  in  that  of  the  alcaid  two, 
the  father  and  the  son.  Upon  this  the  muleteer 
asked  me  if  I  knew  the  origin  of  this  proverb.  I 
answered  that  I  did  not,  and  that  I  should  be  glad  to 
hear  it.  "  If  I  may  believe  an  old  man  from  whom 
I  had  it,"  replied  he,  "  this  is  the  story  : — 

"In  the  year  1236,  when  Don  Fernando,  sur- 
named  the  Holy,  King  of  Castile  and  Leon,  was  one 
day  at  Beneventum,  news  was  brought  him  that  the 
Christian  troops  had  entered  Cordova,  having  already 
possessed  themselves  of  the  suburbs  called  Axarquia; 
but  that  the  Moors,  to  whom  the  place  belonged, 
and  who  were  very  superior  in  numbers,  were  pre- 
paring to  repulse  them.  This  monarch,  animated  by 
his  zeal  for  his  religion,  resolved  to  fly  to  the  relief 
of  the  Christians,  and  sent  notice  of  his  design  to 
Don  Alvaro  Perez  de  Castro  and  Don  Ordonis 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      331 

Alvaroz,  who  were  both  at  Marts.  These  two  lords, 
who  were  at  that  time  the  most  illustrious  cavaliers 
in  Castile,  instantly  repaired  to  the  king,  who  im- 
mediately set  out  as  he  had  determined.  As  he  was 
only  accompanied  by  about  a  hundred  men  he 
issued  orders  to  all  his  warriors  and  vassals,  who 
might  be  dispersed  in  the  different  towns  and  villages 
under  his  dominion,  to  follow  him  to  Cordova. 
These  orders  would  have  been  executed  willingly 
and  without  delay  had  it  been  practicable,  but  it 
was  then  just  in  the  middle  of  the  month  of  January, 
and  the  heavy  snow  and  rains  had  fallen  in  such 
abundance  as  to  cause  all  the  rivers  and  springs  to 
overflow,  so  that  the  troops  were  not  able  to 
advance,  but  were  obliged  to  halt  at  every  place  they 
came  to. 

"  So  great  a  number  of  them  were  under  the 
necessity  of  stopping  at  Malagon,  that  one  soldier 
was  obliged  to  be  quartered  in  every  house,  and  two 
in  those  of  the  more  opulent  citizens.  The  com- 
mander of  these  troops,  and  his  son,  who  was  also 
an  officer,  chanced  to  fall  to  the  lot  of  the  alcaid. 
Though  this  was  a  very  considerable  town,  yet  there 
were  now  so  many  people  in  it,  and  the  times  were 
so  hard,  that  provisions  became  extremely  scarce  and 
dear,  and  as  the  soldiers  were  not  able  to  procure 
them  at  such  excessive  rates,  they  began  to  steal,  to 
prevent  their  dying  with  hunger.  While  these 
things  were  going  on,  a  merry  conceited  peasant* 
who  had  just  passed  through  the  town  on  his  way  to 
Toledo,  met  a  troop  of  cavaliers  on  the  road  near 


332  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

Orgas,  who  asked  him  whence  he  came.  *  From 
Malagon,'  replied  he ;  '  And  what  news  from 
thence  ? '  inquired  one  of  the  cavaliers.  The  peasant 
made  this  answer,  which  has  since  become  a  proverb, 
*  At  Malagon  there  is  a  thief  in  every  house,  and  in 
that  of  the  alcaid  two,  the  father  and  the  son.' 

"  It  is  most  unfair,"  continued  the  muleteer, 
"  that  this  proverb  should  be  applied  to  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Malagon,  since  they  were  the  persons  robbed, 
and  not  those  that  robbed  others.  On  the  contrary, 
I  will  maintain  to  their  credit  that  from  Madrid  to 
Seville  there  is  no  inn  where  travellers  are  better 
treated  and  less  imposed  on  than  at  Malagon.  I  do 
not  pretend  to  say  that  there  are  not  knaves  in  that 
place  as  well  as  elsewhere,  but  I  assure  you  there  are 
many  worse  in  this  country." 

Just  as  the  muleteer  ended  his  discourse  another 
muleteer  of  his  acquaintance  came  up  to  us,  of  whom 
I  asked  what  was  going  on  at  Almagro,  whence  he 
had  just  come,  and  he  informed  me  that  there  was  a 
company  of  soldiers  there  newly  raised,  and  destined, 
he  believed,  for  Italy.  I  was  enraptured  at  this  news, 
and  felt  disposed  to  forgive  Fortune,  now  that  she 
presented  me  with  so  favourable  an  opportunity  of 
gratifying  my  violent  desire  to  go  to  Genoa,  for  all 
the  hardships  that  she  had  hitherto  made  me  endure. 


(    333    ) 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

GUZMAN  OFFERS  HIMSELF  TO  SERVE  IN  THE  COMPANY 
NEWLY  RAISED.  HIS  RECEPTION  BY  THE  CAP- 
TAIN, AND  HOW  THEY  AFTERWARDS  LIVED 
TOGETHER. 

ALL  my  fear  was  that  the  muleteer  had  been  mis- 
informed, but  on  entering  Almagro  I  was  soon 
convinced  that  he  had  told  the  truth.  I  perceived  a 
flag  suspended  from  a  window  of  one  of  the  houses, 
where  I  supposed  the  captain  had  taken  up  his 
residence. 

I  proceeded  therefore  to  an  inn  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood, where  I  took  up  my  lodging  for  that 
night,  and  in  the  morning  I  dressed  myself  in  my 
best  suit  of  clothes  and  finest  linen  and  went  to 
church,  where  I  heard  mass,  and  from  thence  to  wait 
upon  the  captain,  whom  I  saluted  with  an  air  calcu- 
lated to  make  him  believe  me  a  young  man  of  quality, 
telling  him  that  I  had  come  express  to  Almagro  to 
have  the  honour  of  serving  the  king  by  joining  his 
company.  My  behaviour  and  appearance  had  the 
desired  effect  of  casting  a  mist  before  the  eyes  of 
this  officer,  who  was  an  extremely  well-bred  man. 
He  received  me  therefore  in  the  most  polite  manner, 
testifying  his  joy  at  finding  me  disposed  to  enter  so 
early  in  the  career  of  glory.  He  then  thanked  me 


334  MATEO  ALE  MAN. 

for  the  preference  I  gave  his  company,  which  would 
be  proud  to  receive  among  them  a  cavalier  of  noble 
race,  which  he  could  easily  perceive  I  was.  "  All  I 
regret,"  added  he,  "  is  that  all  the  posts  are  filled  up; 
rut  though  I  cannot  therefore  offer  you  a  commis- 
'ion,  you  shall  at  least  share  mine  with  me,  and  we 
will  live  together  as  though  you  were  captain  as  well 
is  myself." 

To  convince  me  that  these  excessive  civilities  were 
f..iot  mere  compliments,  he  insisted  on  my  staying  to 
dinner,  and  regaled  me  in  jjood  style.  He  did  not 
nowever  forget  to  charge  one  of  his  servants  in 
private  to  inquire  of  mil)--  who  I  was.  My  pasje, 
ivho  had  frequently  hea:J  f.>e  style  myself  Don  Juan 
.4e  Guzman  of  the  hra?^  of  Toral,  answered  this 
question  by  saving  th^tf  this  was  the  name  I  bore, 
and  that  v/a',  ?\i  he  l':xew  of  me.  This  was  reported 
to  the  canton,  wlio  most  firmly  believed  that  I  was 
certainly  one  of  the  younger  branches  of  that  illus- 
irious  house.  The  next  day  I  invited  him  in  my 
furn  to  dine  with  me  at  my  inn,  and  spared  no 
expense  to  render  the  entertainment  as  complete  as 
if  I  had  been  in  reality  the  cavalier  my  valet  had 
represented  me  to  be.  I  did  not  stop  here,  but  gave 
so  many  other  dinners  to  the  captain  and  the  prin- 
cipal officers  of  the  company,  that  it  is  no  wonder 
they  all  esteemed  me  and  considered  me  an  honour 
to  their  corps.  The  captain  in  particular  was  so 
extremely  attentive  to  me  that  I  was  frequently 
quite  confused  at  his  kind  professions  of  regard.  It 
is  true  that,  to  secure  a  continuance  of  his  friendship, 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      335 

I  sent  him  almost  every  day  some  little  present  by 
my  page,  which  he  was  so  kind  as  to  accept  of  as  a 
mark  of  my  affection. 

In  the  meantime  my  purse,  having  no  flux  and 
reflux  like  the  sea,  began  to  empty  itself  visibly, 
without  any  prospect  of  being  rilled  again.  What 
with  my  clothes,  my  gallantries,  and  my  travelling 
expenses,  in  addition  to  these  entertainments  and 
presents,  I  had  already  squandered  away  more  than 
half  of  my  reals,  without  reckoning  what  I  had  lost 
at  play  with  the  officers,  the  majority  of  whom  knew 
better  than  myself  how  to  take  advantage  in  gaming 
of  every  turn  of  fortune  in  their  favour.  I  had  still, 
however,  a  sufficient  sum  remaining  to  support  my 
assumed  character  for  some  time  longer,  when  orders 
were  given  for  marching,  and  I  followed  the  com- 
pany, in  quality  of  a  volunteer,  to  the  coast,  where  we 
had  orders  to  wait  until  the  galleys  which  were  to 
transport  us  into  Italy  with  other  troops  arrived  at 
Barcelona,  where  we  were  to  embark.  But  it  was 
God's  pleasure  that  this  embarkment  should  not  take 
place  till  three  months  afterwards.  This  completed 
my  ruin;  for  being  willing  to  continue  to  live  with 
the  captain  and  other  officers  as  I  had  begun,  I  was 
soon  compelled  to  make  use  of  my  corps  de  reserve, 
I  mean  my  thirty  pistoles,  which  were  yet  untouched, 
and  which  I  soon  ran  through  with  as  little  frugality 
as  my  reals.  When  I  found  my  resources  thus  at  an 
end  I  was  obliged  to  sell  my  fine  clothes  and  linen, 
and  to  get  rid  of  my  valet,  who  went  to  seek  his  for- 
tune elsewhere,  and,  having  no  money  to  game  with, 


336  MATED  ALE  MAN. 

I  ceased  to  associate  with  the  officers,  who  guessed 
but  too  rightly  the  reasons  that  obliged  me  thus  to 
alter  my  conduct  towards  them. 

Reflections  now  came  thick  upon  the  prodigal 
child;  and  though  I  had  not  given  way  to  them 
while  my  money  lasted,  now  that  it  was  gone  at 
least  a  million  presented  themselves  to  my  imagina- 
tion. I  recalled  to  mind  all  my  past  follies,  and 
reproached  myself  as  severely  as  a  professed  peda- 
gogue could  have  done,  resolving  to  manage  better 
for  the  future,  as  though  I  had  still  several  bags  of 
reals  in  my  portmanteau.  I  chiefly  repented  of 
having  given  such  fine  entertainments  to  the  captain, 
who  no  longer  invited  me  to  dinner  as  usual,  now 
that  my  money  was  gone.  The  other  officers,  think- 
ing that  I  had  nothing  more  to  lose,  turned  their 
backs  upon  me.  The  sergeants,  who  had  before  been 
in  the  habit  of  visiting  me  as  a  second  captain,  and 
who  had  considered  themselves  honoured  by  my  con- 
descending to  converse  with  them,  no  longer  came 
near  me.  There  was  not  a  single  soldier  but  avoided 
me,  and  I  question  if  even  the  blackguards  th^t 
followed  them  would  have  deigned  to  associate  with 
me  had  I  been  inclined  to  have  been  their  comrade. 
But  it  was  but  just,  after  such  useless  extravagance, 
that  I  was  punished  as  I  deserved.  If  there  was 
anything  that  could  console  me  in  my  unfortunate 
situation,  it  was  that  during  the  whole  course  of  my 
prosperity  I  had  not  committed  the  least  knavery. 
This  gave  my  captain  a  good  opinion  of  me,  who, 
believing  as  firmly  as  ever  that  I  was  a  young  man 


TtiE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  DALFARACtiE.     337 

of  high  birth,  still  retained  some  esteem  for  me  in  my 
misery.  He  had  himself  too  well  profited  by  my 
foolish  conduct  not  to  forgive  me  from  the  bottom 
of  his  soul ;  and  when  I  called  upon  him  one  evening 
he  received  me  much  as  usual,  without  taking  any 
notice  of  the  situation  of  my  affairs,  though  he  was 
in  reality  much  affected,  and  he  could  not  avoid 
saying  to  me  one  day  that  I  was  more  melancholy 
than  usual.  "  My  dear  Guzman,  I  should  indeed  be 
hard-hearted  and  ungrateful  were  I  insensible  to  your 
troubles,  after  the  many  proofs  you  have  given  me  of 
your  friendship.  But  you  have  yet  to  learn  that  my 
fortune  is  but  little  better  than  your  own,  and  I  am 
sincerely  afflicted  that  I  am  utterly  incapable  of  con- 
vincing you  of  my  good  wishes  by  my  actions.  All 
I  can  pretend  to  offer  you  in  your  present  distress  is 
a  lodging  in  my  house  and  the  table  of  my  servants; 
for  myself,  I  am  obliged  to  dine  out,  from  my  utter 
incapacity  to  receive  my  friends  at  home." 

This  proposal,  which  he  did  not  make  without  a 
blush,  was  tendered  in  so  obliging  a  manner  that  I 
accepted  it.  Pride  becomes  nobody,  but  still  less  a 
man  who  has  no  money  and  knows  not  where  to 
lay  his  head  ;  it  is  a  chameleon,  which  lives  only  on  the 
wind.  From  his  companion  I  was  now  become  his 
servant.  But  I  owe  him  this  piece  of  justice  :  instead 
of  treating  me  like  a  common  servant,  he  behaved  in 
the  most  considerate  manner  towards  me.  When 
he  wished  me  to  do  anything  for  him  he  requested 
instead  of  commanding  it,  and,  on  my  side,  I  was 
always  more  anxious  than  the  other  domestics  to 

VOL.  i.  y 


338  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

make  myself  useful  to  him,  that  I  might  preserve  his 
friendship,  and  not  eat  the  bread  of  idleness;  and  I 
so  completely  succeeded  in  my  desire  to  please  him, 
by  anticipating  his  every  wish,  that,  believing  me  to 
be  faithful,  and  even  prudent,  though  I  had  suffi- 
ciently proved  myself  the  reverse  by  my  former  dis- 
sipations, he  resolved  to  make  me  acquainted  with 
the  present  state  of  his  affairs,  to  convince  me  that 
he  placed  entire  confidence  in  me. 

He  confessed  to  me  then  that  he  was  so  much  re- 
duced that  a  few  jewels  which  he  possessed  were  his 
only  resource.  "  Can  you  guess,"  added  he,  "  what 
has  reduced  me  to  this  extremity? — the  time  that 
was  consumed  in  soliciting  my  employment  and  the 
great  presents  I  was  obliged  to  make  to  obtain  it. 
Yes,  were  I  to  begin  life  afresh,  I  would  renounce 
such  a  profession,  notwithstanding  the  desire  that 
every  Spanish  gentleman  naturally  has  to  acquire 
glory  in  the  army.  I  cannot  reflect  on  what  I  have 
submitted  to  without  blushing,  for  besides  the  money 
that  I  have  expended,  how  many  whole  days  have  I 
passed  with  my  hat  in  my  hand,  soliciting,  flattering, 
bowing  to  the  ground,  kicking  my  heels  at  levees, 
sometimes  to  speak  to  one  person,  sometimes  to  meet 
with  another,  cringing,  acting  a  servant's  part,  and  a 
thousand  other  meannesses  of  which  I  am  ashamed ! 
But  the  most  provoking  treatment  that  I  met  with, 
and  which  I  felt  most  sensibly,  was  on  the  day  pre- 
ceding that  on  which  I  had  been  promised  my  com- 
mission. After  having  consumed  more  than  eight 
months  in  solicitations  in  the  manner  I  have  just 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  &ALFARACHB.      339 

described  to  you,  I  accompanied  my  patron  as  he 
came  out  of  the  palace,  and  conducted  him,  with  the 
most  profound  respect,  to  the  steps  of  his  carriage, 
which  was  in  waiting  for  him,  but  unfortunately  put 
my  hat  on  a  moment  before  the  carriage  drove  off. 
The  minister  noticed  this,  darted  a  haughty  look  at 
me,  and  soon  convinced  me  that  this  accident  had 
offended  him,  for  my  commission  was  not  delivered 
to  me  for  above  four  months  after.  I  even  ran  the 
risk  of  losing  both  my  trouble  and  my  money  by 
not  obtaining  it  at  all.  God  deliver  every  honest 
man,"  continued  he,  raising  his  eyes  towards  heaven, 
"  from  persons  who  possess  power  and  bad  disposi- 
tions united !  How  blind  are  these  idols  of  the 
Court,  who  expect  to  be  adored  like  deities !  They 
must  surely  have  forgotten  that  they  are  but  miser- 
able comedians,  appointed  to  play  principal  characters, 
and  that  at  the  end  of  the  piece,  that  is  to  say,  of 
their  lives,  they  must  leave  the  stage  like  ourselves, 
and  be  thought  of.no  more." 

I  was  so  affected  by  this  relation  that  I  felt  more 
interested  in  my  captain's  misfortunes  than  my  own, 
and  assured  him,  in  the  most  impressive  terms,  rny 
heart  could  dictate  that  there  was  nothing  I  would 
not  undertake  for  him,  and  that  I  would  willingly 
expose  my  life  to  be  of  service  to  him.  He  thanked 
me  for  my  good  wishes. 

"  But  what  assistance,"  added  he,  smiling,  "  can  I 
expect  from  you  in  your  present  condition  ? " 

"  That  we  shall  see,"  answered  I ;  "  for  though  I 
am  young,  necessity  inspires  wit,  and  may  supply  my 


346  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

deficiency  of  experience.  Leave  it  to  me  to  find  you 
the  means  of  living  at  ease  until  we  embark.'* 

The  captain  smiled  again  at  these  words,  and, 
without  making  any  reply,  shook  his  head,  to  show 
me  that  he  placed  but  little  reliance  on  professions 
dictated  by  my  inconsiderate  zeal  to  serve  him. 
Had  he  known  my  talents  he  would  have  formed  a 
different  opinion,  but  I  soon  obliged  him  to  do  me 
justice. 

As  the  galleys  were  a  long  while  ere  they  arrived, 
we  were  obliged  to  be  billeted,  upon  short  allowance, 
in  the  different  villages,  and  frequently  moved  our 
quarters.  At  every  house  I  left  a  dozen  billets, 
which  brought  us  in  at  least  twelve  reals  each,  and 
from  some  of  the  more  opulent  inhabitants  fifty. 
For  my  own  part,  I  gained  admittance  into  every 
house  at  free  cost,  without  quartering  myself  on  any 
one  in  particular ;  and  I  never  failed  to  leave  proofs  at 
each  that  I  had  the  perfect  use  of  my  hands.  I  really 
think  that  I  would  even  have  carried  off  water  from 
their  wells  rather  than  have  gone  away  empty-handed. 
By  these  means  I  so  completely  re-established  my 
captain's  finances,  that  he  was  enabled  to  keep  open 
table  again  as  before,  and  the  dexterity  of  my  hands 
supplied  him  abundantly  with  good  cheer  at  a  cheap 
rate  :  fowls,  capons,  geese,  pullets,  and  pigeons  fell  as 
thick  as  hail  into  the  kitchen,  and  hams  were  not 
wanting  to  complete  the  larder. 

If  by  chance  the  master  of  a  house  happened  to 
catch  me  in  the  fact,  in  case  it  were  but  a  small  theft 
I  made  a  jest  of  it,  and  though  a  greater,  the  worst 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.     341 

that  could  happen  to  me  was  to  be  carried  before  my 
captain,  who  reprimanded  me  in  a  severe  manner, 
and  sometimes  caused  me  to  be  imprisoned  in  a 
chamber,  where  I  received  by  his  orders  a  hundred 
lashes  which  I  never  felt  at  all ;  but  I  always  made 
the  room  ring  with  cries  as  if  I  were  being  torn  in 
pieces,  though  I  was  never  so  much  as  touched  all 
the  while.  This  satisfied  the  injured  parties  and 
saved  the  honour  of  the  officer.  Sometimes  the 
complainants  themselves  would  intercede  with  the 
captain  on  my  behalf,  conjuring  him  out  of  pity  to 
forgive  me. 

Jests  like  these,  however,  generally  grow  serious. 
After  these  petty  thefts,  I  was  not  content  until  I 
ventured  upon  greater.  For  this  purpose  I  selected 
five  or  six  of  the  most  resolute  fellows  in  our  com- 
pany ;  we  all  disguised  ourselves  and  went  on  the 
highway,  where  we  stopped  several  travellers,  who, 
by  immediately  surrendering  their  money,  prevented 
the  crimes  which  their  resistance  might  have  caused 
us  to  commit. 

Our  captain  was  no  sooner  informed  of  these 
dangerous  proceedings,  than,  dreading  the  conse- 
quences both  to  himself  and  me,  he  positively  for- 
bade my  carrying  on  this  game  any  longer,  desiring 
me  to  confine  myself  to  more  innocent  amusement 
for  the  future,  such  as  finding  false  musters,  in  which 
science  I  was  a  perfect  adept.  By  a  false  beard,  or  a 
patch  on  the  eye,  I  could  easily  make  the  same  soldier 
receive  pay  three  times  over,  without  detection.  In 
short,  I  became  so  useful  to  the  captain  that  he  con- 


342  MATEO  ALE  MAN. 

fessed  to  me  that  my  industry  alone  was  worth  much 
more  to  him  than  the  whole  income  that  he  derived 
from  his  company. 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

GUZMAN  PROCEEDS  WITH  THE  COMPANY  TO  BARCELONA, 
WHERE  HE  PLAYS  A  TRICK  UPON  A  JEWELLER,  AND 
EMBARKS  FOR  ITALY. 

THE  galleys  at  length  arrived  at  Barcelona.  As  soon 
as  we  received  this  intelligence,  we  marched  thither 
to  embark,  but  as  the  wind  was  not  favourable  we 
were  obliged  to  remain  a  considerable  time  in  that 
city%  where  something  more  than  my  usual  address 
was  necessary  to  enable  us  to  live  in  plenty  at  so 
cheap  a  rate  as  before.  I  soon  remarked  that  my 
captain  was  relapsing  into  his  former  despondency, 
and  I  easily  guessed  the  cause.  Well  might  I  know 
the  nature  of  his  complaint,  since  I  was  the  physician 
who  had  already  cured  him  of  it. 

For  this  once,  however,  I  felt  at  a  loss  how  to 
prescribe,  being  entirely  unacquainted  with  the  map 
of  Barcelona  and  the  disposition  of  its  inhabitants. 
I  did  not,  however,  forget  to  tender  my  exertions  as 
a  specific  to  my  patient,  who  replied,  in  a  serious 
manner,  that  we  had  no  longer  peasants  to  deal  with, 
and  that  I  must  be  very  cautious  what  I  did.  Diffi- 
culties tended  only  to  quicken  my  apprehension,  and 
an  idea  occurred  to  me  which  I  resolved  to  follow. 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      343 

I  have  already  told  you  that  the  captain  had  some 
jewels  which  he  reserved  for  a  rainy  day.  Amongst 
these  jewels  was  a  gold  reliquary,  set  round  with 
diamonds,  which  he  intended  to  dispose  of  for  sub- 
sistence until  we  embarked.  I  requested  him  to 
show  it  me,  and  asked  if  he  could  place  so  much 
confidence  in  me  as  to  entrust  it  to  me  for  a  day  or 
two,  adding  that  I  would  return  it  to  him  with 
usury. 

"  Oh !  oh !  my  little  Guzman,"  answered  he  with 
a  smile,  "  what  piece  of  roguery  have  you  now  in 
contemplation  ?  " 

"  You  have  only,"  replied  I,  "  to  let  me  have  the 
reliquary,  and  keep  up  your  spirits.  If,  notwith- 
standing all  the  precautions  that  I  can  take  to  per- 
form safely  the  trick  that  I  have  in  my  head,  I 
should  be  so  unfortunate  as  to  meet  with  any  check 
from  justice,  I  can  at  least  pledge  myself  to  save 
your  honour,  and  to  bear  all  the  ill  consequences  of 
it  myself." 

My  captain  could  hold  out  no  longer,  but  gave 
me  the  reliquary,  saying  that  he  wished  me  success 
in  my  enterprise  whatever  it  might  be.  Nobody, 
indeed,  had  more  interest  in  it  than  himself,  to  whom 
all  the  profit  would  accrue.  I  put  the  jewel  into  a 
purse  which  I  hid  in  my  bosom,  the  string  of  which 
I  tied  to  the  buttons  of  my  doublet;  after  which  I 
went  to  the  first  jeweller's  I  could  meet,  who,  fortu- 
nately for  me,  was  well  known  in  the  city  as  a  noted 
usurer.  I  asked  him  if  he  was  inclined  to  purchase 
a  fine  reliquary.  I  showed  it  him,  and  could  easily 


344  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

perceive  that  he  liked  it  very  well,  although  he  pre- 
tended not  to  think  much  of  it.  I  did  not  wait 
until  he  asked  me  the  usual  questions,  but  told  him 
that  I  was  a  soldier  in  a  company  newly  raised,  and 
that  was  destined  for  Italy  j  that  I  had  spent  all  my 
money,  and  having  no  other  resource,  found  myself 
reduced  to  dispose  of  this  jewel,  that  I  might  not  be 
entirely  destitute.  "  You  are  at  liberty,"  added  I, 
"  to  go  and  ascertain  from  my  captain,  from  the  other 
officers,  and  even  soldiers,  who  I  am ;  they  will 
inform  you  that  I  am  styled  Don  Juan  de  Guzman ; 
upon  their  report  of  me  you  can  make  up  your 
mind  whether  you  will  buy  the  reliquary  or  not. 
While  you  are  making  these  inquiries  I  will  go  and 
wait  for  you  on  the  quay,  where  I  have  a  little 
business  to  settle." 

The  jeweller,  who  was  not  willing  to  allow  this 
jewel  to  escape  him,  took  his  cloak  immediately,  and 
hastened  to  the  place  where  I  told  him  we  lodged, 
and  did  not  fail  to  question  several  of  the  officers  and 
soldiers  as  to  the  character  of  a  certain  Don  Juan  de 
Guzman,  who  described  himself  as  belonging  to  their 
company.  Every  man  of  them  (for  I  was  generally 
beloved)  assured  him  I  was  a  young  man  of  quality, 
who  intended  to  pass  over  to  Italy  with  them,  and 
that  they  had  known  me  make  a  most  brilliant 
figure.  In  short,  they  spoke  so  well  of  me  that  he 
soon  returned  to  look  for  me  on  the  quay,  where  he 
had  no  great  difficulty  in  finding  me,  for  I  had  no  other 
business  there  but  to  wait  for  and  entrap  him.  He 
requested  me,  as  soon  as  he  came  up,  to  allow  him 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.     345 

to  gee  the  reliquary  again,  which  he  was  come  to 
treat  for. 

"  Willingly,"  replied  I ;  "  but  let  us  retire  a  little, 
as  I  have  no  wish  to  have  a  crowd  assembled  about 
us." 

I  then  drew  the  jewel  out  of  my  purse  and  handed 
it  to  him  ;  he  looked  at  it  on  all  sides,  and,  after  hav- 
ing examined  it  minutely,  asked  me  what  I  would 
have  for  it.  I  told  him  two  hundred  crowns;  and 
though  that  was  not  half  its  value,  the  old  usurer 
pretended  to  be  quite  astonished  at  such  a  price,  and 
began  to  tell  me  that  the  gold  was  by  no  means  of 
the  finest  quality,  besides  which  he  found  great 
fault  with  the  workmanship,  as  well  as  with  the 
diamonds;  nevertheless,  he  offered  me  one  half,  and 
I  was  surprised  in  my  turn. 

"  That  will  not  do,"  cried  I ;  "  you  take  advantage 
of  my  situation ;  but,  distressed  as  I  am  for  money,  I 
declare  that  you  shall  not  have  it  for  less  than  a 
hundred  and  fifty  crowns." 

He  still  continued  to  make  so  many  objections 
that  I  was  at  last  contented  to  conclude  the  bargain 
at  a  hundred  and  twenty,  and  he  requested  me  to 
accompany  him  to  his  shop  to  receive  the  money. 
This  I  refused,  telling  him  that  I  expected  a  person 
to  meet  me  on  the  quay,  and,  therefore,  could  not 
leave  it;  that  if  he  would  return  home  and  procure 
the  sum  agreed  on,  he  would  find  me  again  in  the 
same  place.  The  jeweller,  finding  that  I  could  not 
be  prevailed  on  to  accompany  him,  and  being  appre- 
hensive that  the  person  whom  I  expected  might  be 


346  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

another  jeweller,  whom  I  had  appointed  to  meet 
on  the  same  subject,  ran  home  with  great  haste, 
lest  he  should  be  deprived  of  his  bargain  before  his 
return. 

The  old  rogue  soon  returned  to  me  again,  quite 
out  of  breath,  bringing  with  him  in  a  small  bag  the 
hundred  and  twenty  crowns,  which  he  counted  into 
my  hand.  I  requested  the  bag  of  him  in  which 
I  put  the  money,  and  offered  him  in  exchange  the 
purse  that  the  reliquary  was  kept  in ;  but  affecting 
to  find  great  difficulty  in  untying  the  strings,  which 
I  had  purposely  well  fastened,  I  snatched,  as  though 
from  impatience,  a  knife  which  I  observed  in  a  sheath 
at  his  girdle  and  cut  them  asunder.  Although  this 
action  seemed  to  surprise  him  a  little,  he  was  so  far 
from  guessing  the  cause  that  he  departed  and  walked 
towards  home,  well  satisfied  with  his  purchase,  and 
very  far  from  suspecting  the  snare  that  I  had  laid 
for  him. 

After  having  allowed  him  to  proceed  a  few  steps,  I 
beckoned  to  one  of  my  comrades,  as  great  a  rogue  as 
myself,  whom  I  had  stationed  near  at  hand  so  as  to 
be  ready  when  called  for,  and  desired  him  to  carry  the 
crowns  to  our  captain.  Then  I  ran  as  fast  as  I  could 
after  my  jeweller,  for  I  had  not  lost  sight  of  him,  and 
overtook  him  at  a  part  where  the  roads  met,  where 
there  happened  to  be  some  soldiers  assembled,  to  whom 
I  pointed  him  out,  crying  aloud,  "  Stop  thief,  fellow 
soldiers,  stop  thief!  for  God's  sake,  stop  that  old  rascal 
there,  who  has  just  robbed  me;  let  him  not  escape!" 
The  soldiers,  some  of  whom  belonged  to  our  own 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.    347 

company,  stopped  the  poor  jeweller  immediately, 
asking  him  how  he  had  given  me  cause  to  complain 
thus  of  him.  He  was  at  first  so  bewildered  with  fear 
and  astonishment,  that  he  had  not  the  power  of 
uttering  a  word.  Had  he  spoken,  however,  it  would 
not  have  availed  him,  for  his  voice  would  have  been 
drowned  by  that  of  his  accuser ;  nobody  was  to  be 
heard  but  myself,  who  kept  up  a  continued  roar; 
and,  to  make  more  impression  on  the  soldiers,  I  fell 
down  on  my  knees  before  them  and,  forcing  some 
tears  into  my  eyes,  implored  their  assistance. 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  I,  "  you  see  before  you  in  that 
old  rogue  one  of  the  greatest  hypocrites  in  Spain.  I 
chanced  just  now  to  be  standing  by  him  on  the  quay, 
where  he  remarked  that  I  had  a  purse  in  my  bosom, 
and  asked  me  what  was  in  it?  '  A  reliquary,'  answered 
I,  '  which  my  master  the  captain  accidentally  left  at 
the  bed's-head  this  morning,  and  that  I  have  taken 
care  of  to  give  it  to  him  again ; '  upon  this  the  old 
rascal  whom  you  have  secured  requested  me  in  a  civil 
manner  to  show  it  him,  telling  me  that  he  was  a 
goldsmith  and  was  curious  in  jewels.  I  satisfied  his 
curiosity,  and  he  asked  me  if  I  would  dispose  of  this 
reliquary.  '  That  cannot  be,'  said  I,  *  for  it  is  my  mas- 
ter's ; '  at  the  same  time  I  replaced  it  in  my  purse  which 
was  tied  to  my  button;  whereupon  my  thief,  while 
he  amused  me  with  words,  drew  forth  a  knife  which 
he  had  in  a  sheath  at  his  girdle,  and  suddenly  cut  the 
strings,  the  ends  of  which  are  still  to  be  seen.  Take 
the  trouble,  gentlemen,  of  searching  him,  I  beg  of 
you,"  added  I,  "  and  you  will  find  the  purse  contain- 


348  MATEO  ALE  MAN. 

ing  thejewel'somewhere  about  his  person,  for  I  have 
followed  him  so  closely  that  he  has  not  had  an  oppor- 
tunity of  otherwise  disposing  of  it." 

The  soldiers  instantly  began  to  search  him,  they 
drew  forth  the  purse  containing  the  reliquary  from 
his  bosom  where  he  had  placed  it,  and,  perceiving 
that  the  strings  had  really  been  cut,  they  no  longer 
doubted  the  goldsmith's  guilt ;  in  vain  did  he  protest 
and  swear  that  I  had  sold  it  him,  they  would  not 
believe  him,  it  being  so  extremely  improbable  that 
an  old  and  experienced  jeweller  could  consent  to 
purchase  so  rich  a  reliquary  of  a  young  soldier,  with- 
out suspecting  that  it  must  have  been  stolen.  "  Once 
more,"  cried  the  accused,  "  I  assure  you  that  I  paid 
this  young  man  for  the  reliquary  a  hundred  and 
twenty  crowns  in  gold,  which  I  reckoned  into  his 
hand,  and  which  he  must  now  have  about  him ;  you 
have  only  to  search  him  also  to  find  these  gold  coins, 
which  I  paid  him  only  a  few  minutes  since."  The 
soldiers,  to  satisfy  him,  rummaged  my  pockets  out ; 
and,  finding  no  money  about  me,  they  began  to  re- 
vile him  most  unmercifully  and  even  to  beat  him. 
Nevertheless,  as  he  insisted  on  being  conducted  to  a 
judge,  they  carried  us  both  before  one. 

Here  I  related  my  case  in  the  same  manner  as  I 
had  reported  it  to  the  soldiers,  who,  upon  being  in- 
terrogated by  the  judge,  said  more  than  was  sufficient 
to  convince  him  that  the  jeweller  had  really  seized 
this  reliquary  from  me  by  force,  in  addition  to  which, 
this  citizen  being  so  well  known  as  a  covetous  man, 
who  would  not  scruple  at  a  trifle,  they  were  the  more 


THE  LIFE  OP  GVZMAti  &ALFARACHB.    349 

disposed  to  think  him  guilty.  The  magistrate,  how- 
ever, out  of  consideration  for  his  family,  which  con- 
sisted of  some  of  the  first  persons  in  the  city,  was 
content  to  reprimand  him  severely,  and  delivered  the 
jewel  into  my  hands  again,  desiring  me  to  carry  it  to 
my  master,  which  I  did  immediately. 

When  I  related  this  adventure  to  the  captain  he 
returned  thanks  to  Heaven  that  it  had  ended  so  well ; 
he  had  feared,  and  with  some  reason,  that  I  should 
have  come  but  scurvily  off  in  so  slippery  an  affair, 
and  my  boldness  made  him  tremble.  Although  he 
was  the  only  person  that  profited  by  my  rogueries, 
yet  he  resolved  to  get  rid  of  the  rogue,  fearing  that  I 
should  at  last  ruin  him  as  well  as  myself  by  some  un- 
lucky adventure.  He  was  impatient  for  the  day  when 
we  should  embark,  which  at  length  arrived.  The 
galleys  left  the  harbour  of  Barcelona,  and  transported 
us  in  safety  to  Genoa,  where  we  were  no  sooner 
landed  than  my  captain  said  to  me  in  private,  "  My 
dear  Guzman,  we  are  now  in  the  country  whither 
you  have  been  so  extremely  anxious  to  come  "  (for  I 
had  communicated  to  him  my  intentions  of  visiting 
my  kindred) ;  "  we  must  now,  with  your  leave,  begin 
to  think  of  parting,  for  I  am  not  more  afraid  of  all 
the  devils  together  than  of  the  consequences  of  these 
legerdemain  tricks  of  yours;  farewell,  my  friend," 
added  he,  putting  a  pistole  into  my  hand,  "  I  much 
regret  that  I  am  not  in  a  situation  to  make  you  a 
better  acknowledgment  for  your  services."  Thus 
saying,  he  departed,  leaving  me  so  thunderstruck 
with  his  compliment  that  I  could  not  utter  a  word. 


350  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

But  what  could  I  have  said  to  him  ?  was  it  necessary 
to  represent  to  him  all  the  dangers  I  had  faced  on  his 
account?  he  was  well  aware  of  them,  for  what  else 
was  it  that  caused  my  dismissal.  I  could  not  be  sur- 
prised at  his  behaviour.  I  had  only  the  common 
fate  of  rogues,  who,  like  vipers  and  scorpions,  are 
made  use  of  while  anything  useful  can  be  extracted 
from  them,  and  afterwards  thrown  to  the  dogs. 


CHAPTER    XX. 

GUZMAN,  HAVING  ARRIVED  AT  GENOA,  RESOLVES  TO 
PRESENT  HIMSELF  BEFORE  HIS  KINDRED  THERE. 
HOW  HE  WAS  RECEIVED  BY  THEM. 

As  soon  as  I  had  quitted  the  captain,  or  rather  when 
I  found  myself  abandoned  by  him,  my  only  thought 
was  how  to  console  myself  under  this  misfortune,  and 
I  soon  forgot  it  when  I  reflected  that  I  was  now  at 
Genoa,  where  I  had  so  long  desired  to  be.  I  inquired 
in  the  city  about  my  relations,  and  was  informed  that 
they  were  the  most  rich  and  powerful  persons  in  that 
republic.  I  was  overjoyed  at  this  news,  for  I  did  not 
doubt  that  I  should  receive  the  greatest  assistance 
from  them  when  they  knew  that  I  was  a  branch  of 
their  noble  family. 

I  looked  about  for  another  inn  where  I  could  live 
thriftily,  until  I  should  be  rather  a  more  decent  figure 
to  visit  my  relations.  My  pistole  could  not  do  much 
for  me,  part  of  which  I  was  obliged  to  expend  in  pro- 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      351 

curing  a  pair  of  shoes,  which  I  was  sadly  in  want  of; 
my  clothes  were  also  much  worn,  as  well  as  my 
stockings  and  hat,  so  that  my  whole  dress  was  in  a 
ruinous  condition.  "  So  much  the  better,"  said  I ; 
"  my  relations  can  never  suffer  me  to  remain  long  in 
such  a  state  to  be  a  disgrace  to  them.  Let  me  quickly, 
therefore,  make  myself  known  to  them,  that  I  may 
the  sooner  be  relieved  from  my  misery." 

I  then  immediately  set  forward  with  this  intention, 
and  asked  the  way  to  their  house,  boasting  to  every 
one  I  spoke  to  that  I  had  the  honour  to  be  of  their 
family,  which  was  soon  reported  to  them  by  some  of 
their  enemies,  who,  thinking  that  the  sight  of  a  lad 
so  wretchedly  equipped  would  afford  them  no  great 
pleasure,  were  the  more  anxious  to  communicate  to 
them  the  agreeable  news.  My  generous  relations 
were  almost  desperate.  They  looked  upon  my 
poverty  as  an  infamous  disgrace  to  them;  and  I 
verily  believe  that  could  they,  without  danger  to  them- 
selves, have  caused  me  to  be  poniarded  they  would 
not  have  hesitated  a  moment,  for  such  practices  were 
but  too  common  in  that  country.  But  as  I  was 
already  talked  of  all  over  the  city,  where  my  father 
had  been  so  well  known,  if  I  had  disappeared  all  of 
a  sudden  the  cause  would  have  been  easily  guessed. 

Do  not  be  surprised,  reader,  at  my  ill  opinion  of 
my  relations;  had  you  been  in  their  place  I  do  not 
think  that  you  would  have  behaved  much  better 
towards  me.  Suppose  yourself  for  a  moment  as  rich 
as  they  were,  and  tell  me  candidly  how  you  would 
have  received  a  beggar,  who  comes  up  to  you  aa 


352  MATED  ALEMAN. 

suddenly  as  if  he  had  just  fallen  from  the  clouds, 
and  salutes  you  in  the  middle  of  the  street,  saying, 
"  Good  morrow,  uncle,  or  brother,  I  am  a  son  of  your 
brother,  or  of  your  mother ; "  would  you  not  be 
extremely  mortified?  and  yet  I  was  so  imprudent  as 
to  address  them  in  this  public  manner ;  thus  I  never 
saluted  one. of  them  that  did  not  treat  me  with  the 
titles  of  rascal  and  impostor,  accompanying  these 
epithets  with  threats :  "  Take  our  advice,"  said  they, 
"  and  do  not  remain  much  longer  at  Genoa,  lest  you 
pass  but  an  unpleasant  time  here."  In  vain  did  I 
name  my  father,  protesting  that  he  ranked  among 
the  noble  Genoese ;  they  seemed  all  to  have  forgotten 
that  there  had  ever  been  such  a  person  in  existence. 

One  evening  I  met  a  venerable  looking  old  man, 
who  accosted  me  in  a  polite  and  insinuating  manner. 
"  My  son,"  said  he,  "  is  it  not  you  who  have  reason 
to  complain  of  certain  titled  personages  who  have 
not  chosen  to  acknowledge  you  for  one  of  their 
noble  blood?"  I  answered  in  the  affirmative,  and 
told  him  who  was  my  father.  "  I  recollect  him 
well,"  replied  the  old  man,  "  and  there  are  certainly 
in  this  city  several  of  the  principal  nobles  who  are 
his  relations.  T  can  even  introduce  you  to  a  banker 
who  must  have  been  a  most  intimate  friend  of  your 
father's,  and  who  to-morrow,  for  it  is  too  late  to-day, 
will,  I  doubt  not,  be  happy  to  satisfy  you  in  every 
particular  concerning  your  family.  In  the  meantime," 
continued  he,  "  come  and  take  up  your  lodging  at 
my  house ;  I  feel  quite  indignant  at  the  behaviour 
of  your  cousins  towards  you,  who  ought  rather  to 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      353 

have  received  you  with  the  greatest  affection ;  but 
follow  me,  and  be  assured  that  the  banker  will  put  it 
in  your  power  to  be  fully  avenged  of  them  for  their 
hard-heartedness." 

I  accepted  the  old  man's  offer  of  a  lodging  in  his 
house  by  returning  thanks  to  Heaven  for  so  fortunate 
a  rencounter.  His  appearance  was  such  that  I  did 
not  in  the  least  mistrust  him.  He  had  a  good- 
natured,  serious  air,  his  bald  head  and  white  beard 
rendering  his  appearance  truly  venerable ;  he  walked 
with  a  staff,  and  wore  a  long  robe ;  in  fact,  I  looked 
upon  him  as  another  St.  Paul.  When  we  arrived  at 
his  house,  which  appeared  to  me  like  a  magnificent 
hotel,  a  servant  came  to  meet  him  to  take  off  his 
long  robe ;  but  the  old  gentleman,  from  an  excess  of 
politeness,  would  not  part  with  it,  but  sent  the  ser- 
vant away,  after  having  communicated  something  to 
him  in  Italian,  which  was  so  much  Hebrew  to  me. 
He  then  conducted  me  into  a  large  parlour,  where 
we  conversed  concerning  the  affairs  of  Spain  for 
above  an  hour,  and  from  them  proceeded  insensibly 
to  those  of  our  own  family,  respecting  which  he 
seemed  extremely  curious,  questioning  me  more 
particularly  concerning  my  mother,  and  I  answered 
him  in  the  most  cautious  manner.  This  discourse 
was  beginning  to  grow  tedious,  when  the  servant 
returned ;  they  had  another  short  conversation  to- 
gether in  Italian,  which  I  understood  no  better  than 
the  former.  But  immediately  afterwards  the  good 
old  man  addressed  himself  to  me  in  Spanish.  "  I 
suppose,"  said  he,  "  you  have  of  course  supped,  you 

VOL.  I.  Z 


354  MATED  ALE  MAN. 

must  be  weary,  and  it  is  time  to  be  a-bed.  We  shall 
meet  again  in  the  morning."  Then,  turning  to  his 
servant,  "  Antonio,"  continued  he,  "  show  this  gen- 
tleman to  the  finest  chamber  in  the  house." 

I  had  much  more  inclination  to  eat  than  to  sleep, 
for  I  was  literally  half  dying  with  hunger,  having 
unfortunately  dined  very  sparingly  at  my  inn  that 
day,  for  my  pistole  was  just  at  an  end.  That  I 
might  not,  however,  presume  upon  the  goodness  of 
an  host  who  seemed  so  disposed  to  be  of  service  to  me, 
I  followed  his  servant  as  if  I  had  had  a  good  bellyful, 
and  was  carried  through  an  enfilade  of  seven  or  eight 
rooms  paved  with  alabaster,  each  vying  with  the 
others  in  magnificence.  From  thence  we  entered  a 
gallery  which  led  into  a  fine  chamber,  in  which  there 
was  a  very  rich  bed  with  superb  tapestry.  "  You  see 
your  chamber,"  said  Antonio,  "  and  the  bed  that  is 
destined  for  you ;  none  are  allowed  to  sleep  here  but 
princes  and  some  few  of  my  master's  nearest  rela- 
tives." 

After  having  allowed  me  to  admire  the  richness 
of  the  furniture  for  a  while,  this  servant  offered  to 
undress  me,  but  I  declined  his  assistance  for  very 
good  reasons;  my  ragged  shirt  was  by  no  means  in 
a  state  to  be  exhibited,  and,  in  addition  to  this,  the 
rest  of  my  clothes  were  now  of  so  very  fine  a  texture 
that  they  required  a  hand  more  interested  in  their  wel- 
fare than  his  was  to  take  them  off  delicately.  Either 
through  malice,  however,  or  that  he  thought  I  de- 
clined his  good-natured  offer  merely  from  politeness, 
he  returned  to  the  charge,  and,  seeming  determined 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.     355 

to  assist  me  in  spite  of  my  teeth,  he  caught  hold  of 
me  and  drew  off  one  of  my  sleeves  so  suddenly  that, 
had  I  not  prevented  him  with  my  other  hand,  he 
would  undoubtedly  have  torn  it  to  pieces.  I  then 
entreated  him  in  a  peevish  tone  to  leave  me  to  my 
rest,  and  he  prevented  my  further  anger  by  desisting 
as  I  desired.  I  retired  to  the  side  of  the  bed,  threw 
oft"  my  rags,  which  were  held  together  only  by  a  few 
laces,  and  jumped  into  bed,  the  sheets  of  which  were 
clean  and  completely  perfumed.  This  done,  I  told 
the  servant  he  might  take  away  the  candle. 

"  I  am  not  so  inconsiderate,"  replied  he,  "  it  would 
be  the  means  of  causing  you  to  pass  a  very  uneasy 
night;  for  it  is  very  common  for  large  bats,  which 
are  very  numerous  in  this  country,  to  conceal  them- 
selves in  chambers  with  so  lofty  a  ceiling,  and  you 
will  be  much  disturbed  by  them  if  you  remain  with- 
out light.  Added  to  this,"  continued  he,  "  there  are 
certain  evil  spirits  that  frequent  the  principal  houses 
in  this  city,  by  whom  you  will  infallibly  be  tormented 
if  you  neglect  to  keep  lighted  candles  in  the  room, 
the  brightness  of  which,  it  is  said,  they  are  afraid  off." 

He  told  me  all  this  tale  with  an  ingenuous  air,  and 
I  listened  to  him  with  all  the  credulity  of  an  infant, 
instead  of  mistrusting  this  Antonio,  whose  knavish 
countenance  ought  to  have  been  sufficient  to  have 
excited  my  suspicions. 

No  sooner  had  he  left  the  chamber  than  I  got  out 
of  bed  and  bolted  the  door,  less  from  fear  of  being 
robbed  than  in  the  hope  of  thus  securing  myself 
from  the  persecution  of  the  aforesaid  spirits.  Con- 


3$6  MATEO  ALE  MAN. 

sidering  myself  then  in  perfect  safety,  I  lay  down 
again,  and  reflected  on  the  benevolence  of  my  vener- 
able landlord.  So  far  from  suspecting  him  of  any 
bad  design,  which,  had  I  possessed  a  little  more 
experience,  I  should  not  have  failed  to  have  done,  I 
represented  to  myself  that  he  could  be  no  other  than 
one  of  my  nearest  relatives,  who  had  not  chosen  to 
make  himself  known  to  me  overnight  that  he  might 
surprise  me  the  more  agreeably  in  the  morning. 

"  I  would  lay  a  good  wager,"  said  I  to  myself, 
"  that  when  I  wake  to-morrow  morning,  I  shall  find 
a  tailor  in  waiting  to  take  measure  of  me  for  a  fine 
suit  of  clothes.  I  may  rest  assured  that  in  future  I 
shall  never  want  for  anything,  and  that  I  have  not 
lost  my  labour  in  coming  to  Italy."  Flattered  by 
these  agreeable  thoughts,  my  senses  were  beguiled  by 
degrees  into  a  most  profound  sleep. 

Although  Antonio  had  told  me  that  the  evil  spirits 
were  so  averse  to  light,  my  candles  did  not  secure 
me  from  the  persecution  of  four  figures  in  the  shape 
of  so  many  devils  who  entered  my  chamber.  It  was 
some  time  before  I  heard  the  noise  created  by  these 
demons ;  but  as  it  was  very  far  from  their  intention 
to  respect  my  repose,  they  advanced  towards  the  bed, 
drew  the  curtains,  two  of  them  seized  me  by  the 
arms,  and  the  other  two  by  the  legs,  and  dragged 
me  out  of  bed.  At  length  I  awoke;  and  finding 
myself  thus  dangling  in  the  air  in  the  clutches  of 
four  devils,  I  was  so  terribly  frightened  that  I  was 
more  dead  than  alive.  They  were  each  habited 
exactly  as  the  devil  is  represented ;  with  huge  long 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      357 

tails,  frightful  vizards,  and  horns  on  their  heads.  I 
had  just  sufficient  sense  remaining  in  me  to  invoke 
the  assistance  of  some  saint  whose  name  occurred  to 
me  at  that  moment.  But  had  I  offered  up  prayers 
they  would  have  been  equally  unavailing.  These 
apparitions  were  not  to  be  driven  from  their  purpose; 
exorcisms  even  would  have  been  useless,  for  the 
devils  that  I  had  to  deal  with  had  been  baptized. 
They  placed  me  in  one  of  my  blankets,  and,  each 
taking  a  corner,  began  to  toss  me  in  the  air  with 
such  violence  that  they  threw  me  to  the  ceiling  at 
every  toss,  against  which  I  expected  every  moment 
that  either  my  head  or  one  of  my  arms  would  have 
been  broken.  But  they  contented  themselves  with 
only  bruising  me,  though  they  did  not  cease  to  make 
me  vault  in  this  manner  until  they  were  completely 
fatigued,  or,  rather,  until  their  noses  informed  them 
that  my  fear  grew  laxative.  They  then  placed  me 
in  bed  again,  covered  me  over  as  they  found  me, 
extinguished  the  light,  and  vanished  the  same  way 
as  they  had  entered. 

In  this  pitiable  condition  I  remained  until  day- 
break ;  and  with  the  most  dreadful  sensation  of  fear 
still  on  my  mind,  I  made  an  effort  to  get  up,  with 
the  intention  of  hastening  as  quickly  as  possible  out 
of  a  house  where  the  duties  of  hospitality  had  been 
so  scurvily  fulfilled.  But  I  could  not  rise  or  dress 
myself  without  the  greatest  difficulty  and  pain,  the 
cause  of  which  I  could  not  remember  without  be- 
stowing a  thousand  curses  on  the  old  rascal  who  had 
caused  me  to  be  thus  cruelly  treated.  He  no  longer 


358  MATEO  ALEMAN. 

seemed  to  me  that  personage  so  worthy  of  veneration, 
no  longer  that  benevolent  character  the  meeting 
with  whom  had  so  much  delighted  me,  but  an  old 
sorcerer,  destined  to  be  damned  from  the  creation  o/ 
the  world. 

Before  I  quitted  the  chamber  I  was  curious  tf 
know  how  these  malignant  spirits  could  have  entered 
it.  I  first  examined  the  door,  and,  finding  it  stil 
bolted  as  I  had  left  it  before  I  fell  asleep,  I  could  no* 
reasonably  imagine  that  they  had  found  their  way  to 
me  by  that  means.  But  having  lifted  up  the  hang 
ings,  I  perceived  a  large  window  covered  by  them, 
which  opened  into  the  gallery.  This  was  still  open, 
the  apparitions  not  having  taken  the  trouble  to  close 
it  after  them.  I  made  not  the  least  noise,  lest  there 
should  be  something  still  in  reserve  for  me,  and 
thought  of  nothing  but  how  to  extricate  myself  from 
this  cursed  place.  I  had  already  left  the  room  with 
this  view,  when  I  met  Antonio  in  the  gallery,  who 
informed  me  that  his  master  was  waiting  for  me  at 
the  nearest  church.  All  the  answer  I  made  was  to 
request  him  to  show  me  to  the  street-door,  which  he 
did  with  as  much  sang-froid  as  if  he  had  not  been 
one  of  the  goblins  who  had  amused  themselves  so 
much  at  my  expense.  I  no  sooner  got  out  of  doors 
than  I  scampered  off  as  if  I  had  not  a  bruise  about 
me.  What  wonderful  strength  is  imparted  by  fear! 
I  ran  as  fast  as  my  legs  would  carry  me. 

As  soon  as  I  considered  myself  in  perfect  safety, 
my  hunger,  which  had  been  suspended  for  a  while  by 
fear,  became  such  that  I  was  obliged  to  satisfy  it  by 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUZMAN  D'ALFARACHE.      359 

buying  some  baked  meat  and  a  slice  of  bread,  which 
I  amused  myself  with  eating  as  I  walked  along.  I 
did  not  stop  till  I  had  got  quite  out  of  the  city,  and 
then,  seeing  a  tavern  before  me,  I  went  in  and  drank 
a  glass  of  good  wine.  This  so  completely  reanimated 
my  courage  that,  after  a  slight  repast,  I  was  able  to 
set  out  again,  taking  the  road  towards  Rome,  reflect- 
ing on  the  affectionate  reception  I  had  met  with 
from  my  relations,  and  especially  from  my  old  friend. 
I  made  a  solemn  oath  never  to  forget  the  detestable 
night  that  this  grey-bearded  old  wolf  had  allured  me 
under  his  roof,  for  which  I  resolved  to  be  fully 
avenged  on  him  the  very  first  opportunity. 


END  OF  VOL.  I. 


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